Don't use sandwich bags

[East River Guide]

So I thought I learned my lesson. This time when I disassembled my P380 slide I did it in a plastic bag. A sandwich bag to be exact. The ejector spring pin blew straight through it and still went 20 feet across the room. Fortunately still found it but next time I am using a ziploc bag (or maybe one of those CDC containment workspaces).

[TucsonMTB]

What a great mental image. Thanks for the laugh!

Have yet to launch a recoil spring (knock wood) and can't help but think trying to manipulate everything inside a bag has got to awkward. Still, I usually work in and/or over the laundry tub in the garage. Ours is heavy, white plastic . . . making it hard for small parts to escape.

Thanks again for the laugh! http://home.mindspring.com/%7Ejustsomeguy/icon_lol.gif

[Tinman507]

I replaced the recoil spring and guide rod on my K9 right after I got it. The first time I tried it, it launched the Stainless Steel rod across the room. I managed to find it and tried again. This time I used a gallon freezer bag. It launched the rod, spring and bag across the room. Fortunately it was all contained but still frustrating.

Very difficult to work inside the bag.

[TucsonMTB]

You guys are a hoot!! http://home.mindspring.com/%7Ejustsomeguy/icon_lol.gif

[ripley16]

...ejector spring

Ejector spring?

[mr surveyor]

I have taken a few springy things apart, particularly a few guns, sitting in the floor with a white bed sheet over me and the springy parts.

[Tinman507]

http://www.seo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/ghost.jpg

[jlottmc]

I do so hate sproing.

[wyntrout]

Extractor spring... that's okay, I call the extractor the ejector sometimes, too.

All it takes is to let your mind wander a bit... and SPROING! I've been lucky in finding mine... so far! My first SPROING... well, not a sproing, but I thought it was... included going through the vacuum cleaner bag because I found the extractor on the floor after USING the VACUUM CLEANER to suck the dirt and crud out of the slide! I figured everything else was in the cleaner bag, so I got a powerful magnet and went through the bag carefully... no luck. Checked the slide and and the spring and pins were still in their track!:rolleyes:

Wynn:)

[kb2wji]

I put a small towel over my hands when I take out the spring. Or, just dont wear safety glasses. Cuz then it will always end up in your eye. Easier to find.

[Deano]

The other day I was putting the mag spring back in, had it all the way compressed, and as I was sliding the base plate on, phwoooop, away she went. I heard it bounce off a wall hanging and then a noise behind me. It took me another half hour to find that sucker, and that's a 7 inch long spring. I can't imagine hunting for something much smaller like an extractor spring.

[wyntrout]

I save everything and I use some of those huge plastic bubble-pack thingies for stuff like that, but mainly when using the 30,000 RPM DLT for polishing. The media goes everywhere and I had to come up with something that the tool, my hands, AND the object being "destroyed" all fit under to contain the media and whatever else was flying off. You might consider something like that. It's hard to cut those things open and some of the "bubbles" are half the size of a washtub!

Wynn:)

[JFootin]

I use a gallon size thick freezer baggie. Thick enough to contain flying pins and stuff, and a lot roomier than a sandwich bag.

[Bawanna]

I was introduced to the gallon freezer bag at Beretta school. We still chased a lot of springs in that class.

Think of the doctor taking out your gall bladder thru them little holes with the robotic wiz dangits, cept you can't see thru the bag.
But no springs either, least ways not for us old guys. Springs are all sprung as it were.

[RedRyder]

I've got a nice big 1/2 inch deep dent in the sheet rock in my office where I do all my gun cleaning. My P9 spring is stronger than a leaf spring on my pickup. Never had a spring with this much action and stiffness. I've finally gotten the hang of it though. Taking it apart is usually not my problem, getting the spring back in place is when it gets away from me.