For those who tinker.

I work on lots of small devices in my home shop and cameras are one of them. I have been using sheets of ridged foam padding on the bench. This stuff is used primarily to cover side gaps in window mounted A/C untis. All the home improvement stores carry it. It is a life saver if you've ever dropped small screws when disassembling something and hunted on the floor for them, this is your salvation. The ridges in the foam catch virtually anything that falls or that you drop and the padding protects your camera as you work on it. Just thought I would pass this along. Wish I had a better picture. Maybe others have something they too can recommend.

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/A-C-Side-Insulation-Panels-Set-of-2/37515988?athcpid=37515988&athpgid=athenaItemPage&athcgid=null&athznid=PWVUB&athieid=v0&athstid=CS002&athguid=466001f5-78d8b89d-8ff9646b8bb931ae&athena=true

Edited June 30, 2018 by andyfalsetta

I'm also a watchmaker, but one of my three watchmaker's benches is dedicated to camera work.

 

A common feature to these benches(actually, all of mine came from different sources but are the same basic model 1930s-1950s Rosenberg bench) is something called a "parts catcher." Basically, it's a shallow drawer with a loosely tacked canvas bottom. It's right under the center of the bench, and the front is also curved to fit against your chest. If parts fall off the bench, they fall in that and stay there rather than bounce.

 

In addition, the bench top is "fenced" on 3 sides and has a routed grove on the front edge to prevent parts from rolling off.

 

Not quite the same thing as you're doing, but avoiding dropping them in the first place is preferable to having to search.

Thanks for the tip. The Frost King air conditioner filter foam is also useful for lining old lens cases, etc.

 

I like to use a large white dish towel (made out of flour sack) when working on cameras. Small parts won't bounce or roll away, and are easy to see. Plus, it's absorbent.

I'm also a watchmaker, but one of my three watchmaker's benches is dedicated to camera work.

 

A common feature to these benches(actually, all of mine came from different sources but are the same basic model 1930s-1950s Rosenberg bench) is something called a "parts catcher." Basically, it's a shallow drawer with a loosely tacked canvas bottom. It's right under the center of the bench, and the front is also curved to fit against your chest. If parts fall off the bench, they fall in that and stay there rather than bounce.

 

In addition, the bench top is "fenced" on 3 sides and has a routed grove on the front edge to prevent parts from rolling off.

 

Not quite the same thing as you're doing, but avoiding dropping them in the first place is preferable to having to search.

 

I maintain my own fleet of wristwatches too Ben (primarily Hamilton Electrics and Seiko 6138/9) and my bench has that tray you describe. It also works great to catch items that fall - if you get into the habit of pulling it out each time you start work. Sometimes I don't.(my bad)

I always work over a large tray for the reasons stated.

You guys are missing out on a the massive rush you get when you finally find that detent ball up against the skirting after three hours on all fours holding a magnet.

^ been there; done that. :) Head mounted light source works wonders on those kinds of hunts.

Head mounted light source works wonders on those kinds of hunts.

Actually, what I have found to work well is using a bright light at a grazing angle to the floor. Shows things up quickly. I also won't work over carpet so worst case, I can sweep or use a rolling magnet.

I learned the grazing light trick in high school when I would help my younger sister find a contact lens that had fallen to the floor. Works well for a lot of dropped objects.

Now that you mention it, I may have learned the trick the same way. Back when I first wore contacts they were hard plastic and expensive to replace. Disposable and single use changed the game.

If you take a camera apart three or four times, at the end you will have enough parts left over to build a duplicate.

Actually, what I have found to work well is using a bright light at a grazing angle to the floor. Shows things up quickly....

 

Hmm... all I find are big

dust bunnies...

http://bayouline.com/o2.gif

Hmm... all I find are big

dust bunnies...

Mine are so plentiful that dust coyotes have evolved to prey on them.

For small projects I use a round cake baking tin lined with a white facecloth. Don't tell my wife.

Ages ago I purchased a 3' x 3' piece of refrigerator magnet material. I place a clean, white, terry cloth towel over this mag-mat when working on small part machinery (kart engines or cameras). If it's ferrous, no bounce at all. Bill