My bench is a graveyard for stuff I swore I'd fix, so taking things apart to reuse pieces is pretty smart. I tried to fix a toaster once and just made a bigger mess, so maybe I should start with viewfinders instead. It feels good to not just throw everything out, even if my projects mostly just add to the clutter.

I know that awkward smile freeze all too well.

Read about a guy who used painter's tape and a marker for engine parts? He swore it saved his project. Saw a video where someone labeled every piece from a old clock. Made it look easy. For me, even with a coffee maker, a few tags help. Stops the panic when you have extra bits. Maybe overkill for some, but why not be sure.