Just in case anyone is interested, to manage all of the screws, covers, and parts for each machine that I work on, I use the following containers:
Small Re-sealable Plastic Bags (used 2x2 and 2x3 parts bags)
Small Microwave Bowls (tapered, stackable)
Small Plastic Containers (old “Wipes” disposable containers)
Large Plastic Tubs (old hospital patient tubs found in yardsales)
When initially removing covers and parts from a sewing machine, it’s not always evident how long the covers or parts will remain off of the machine, so I handle each of them from the get-go as if it will be weeks before re-assembly. Multiple containers are available, empty, and free of lint, oil, and grease at the beginning.
An example would be, servicing a Singer 301A, beginning with top cover removal. The spool of thread is removed and placed in the small plastic (wipes) container. The two top cover screws are extracted and placed in a small MW bowl as they come out. The top cover is removed and placed in a large hospital tub. The screws are then removed from the MW bowl and placed in a small zip bag, which is then placed on top of the cover within the tub. The face cover is removed and placed in the large tub. The bottom cover thumbnut and felt washer are removed and placed in the small plastic (wipes) container. The bottom cover is cleaned of lint and lubricants, and placed in the large tub. The needle is removed and placed in the small (wipes) container. The slide plate, needle plate, bobbin, and bobbin case are removed and placed together in a small MW bowl. The upper tension assembly is removed and placed in a second MW bowl, stacked on top of the first MW bowl. Hook removal is common on a 301A to remove thread trapped in the hook, so it would be removed and placed in a third MW bowl, stacked on top of the other two MW bowls. Additional parts (if required) are removed using the same procedure.
The idea is, large parts (covers) need a large container to hold them, smaller one-of-a-kind parts (bottom thumbnut, needle) that shouldn’t be confused with one another can all be collected together in a smaller container, and small parts assemblies (upper tension) that will require subsequent disassembly are captured in a small MW bowl. Keeping the screws separated is most important, so bagging them along with covers, or corralling them in a small bowl tends to keep them from mingling.
If, at any point along the line, damaged parts are identified (requiring time for parts harvest or ordering), the containers can usually all be nestled in the large tub or under the arm of the machine to keep everything together. The machine and all of its separated parts can then be moved off of the bench to a storage location.
CD in Oklahoma