Used to happen to me all the time, but then I bought a pack of those little 2 ounce GladWare containers.  When I'm done cleaning a tiny part, I just drop it in that container and close it before moving onto the next tiny part.

Thing is physics work a little differently with smaller objects than with larger objects. One thing to look for is the working surface. For example I like to have a layer or two of paper on my bench to avoid damaging the latter with glue, paint or the likes. Now this layer of paper wrinkles a little after time and can work as a catapult for really small parts. Putting them in a plastic container would surely help. And how about air movements that can move small parts? How about sleeves the part can cling to? You don't really need magic for explanation here...

Living in Central Florida, I am at one angle of the Bermuda Triangle. When a part disappears, big or small, that's why.

Heh...and the parts that I do lose?  That's one great reason to have a cat.  My cat always seems to find my missing parts...I guess even the tiniest ones are just out of place, and he takes an interest in playing with them.  I'll see him playing with something, wonder what it is, and it'll be something like a landing light lens that's been missing for weeks.  No way I would have ever found it otherwise.

Happens all the time to me. Gremlins, poltergeists, I have no idea... 

I have an apron with large pockets generally when something drops it falls into those. Howeve, at my age I think part of my brain is firing on 6 out of 8 cylinder And forget occasional where I put stuff.

Pawel

Thing is physics work a little differently with smaller objects than with larger objects.

 

 This really is true.  The smaller it is, the ratio of mass to surface area is.  Mass determines the downward force of gravity. the suface area of small objects determines drag.  So small objects fall slowly, and can flip around (falling leaf).  It may end up on tme floor far from where you dropped it.

Yeah, that's exactly what I meant.

A few years ago I had an exhaust pipe in my tweezers. 

I had just applied a tiny dot of CA to one end, and as I turned my attention to the engine in my other hand, the exhaust pipe dissapeared into thin air.

It just wasn't there.

I crawl around looking for it for a few minutes... 

Then my eye starts to sting a bit. .... the exhaust pipe is glued to my eyebrow !

So no, you are not alone.

Hey fotofrank , Does that angle reach to northwestern Wisconsin? If it does it must be pretty full with all that I have lost over the years.

It still happens to me from time to time, but most of the time I place small parts waiting for installation into a small paint pallette. There are six pots on the pallette so theres lots of room for small parts and it doesn't take up too much space. Plus, I still can use it as a paint pallette.

littletimmy

A few years ago I had an exhaust pipe in my tweezers. 

I had just applied a tiny dot of CA to one end, and as I turned my attention to the engine in my other hand, the exhaust pipe dissapeared into thin air.

It just wasn't there.

I crawl around looking for it for a few minutes... 

 

 

 

 

Then my eye starts to sting a bit. .... the exhaust pipe is glued to my eyebrow !

So no, you are not alone.

 

 

ha, that reminds me I often raise my glasses up to my forehead when I need a closer look see then after an hour I'll run around for a long time looking for them then the wife points to my head.....