Vent: A vintage Leica shutter spring went flying in my shop last Thursday

I was working on a 1954 Leica M3 in my home shop, trying to reset the slow speed escapement. The tiny tension spring for the 1/15th gear slipped from my tweezers and launched across the room. I spent the next two hours on my hands and knees with a magnet and a flashlight, finally finding it under the leg of my workbench. The whole repair was set back by a day, and I had to explain the delay to a very patient customer. Has anyone found a better method for containing these little parts besides just a clear plastic bag over the assembly?

2 comments

2 Comments

elizabethhart11d ago

Ugh, the "launched across the room" part gave me flashbacks. I mean, those tiny springs are basically made of pure spite. I've had okay luck using a big, clear plastic tub as a sort of glove box over the whole work area. It feels dumb but at least if it pings off, it's trapped. Still ends up in a dumb corner, but not under the bench leg.

charles_wilson11d ago

Wait, does the tub trick work for those tiny, evil ball bearings too?