Sheet metal clamps
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Gastrick
One of the Dirty Dozen!
Butt weld panel clamps...........
Charley Davidson
Well-known member
Where you getting those at? I've got lots of clecos & the F type clecos but none of the but clamps
dmw56
Busted and Rusted on Route 66
They are simple to make or get them at Eastwood. http://www.eastwood.com/intergrip-panel-clamps-set-of-4.html. I've also seen them on ebay.
donsrods
Well-known member
Harbor Freight used to have them, still may.
Don
Don
donsrods
Well-known member
Haha, we did the same thing. Dan spent a lot of time making some, had to get wing nuts and all, then we found bags of them cheap at HF. Glad to see they still carry them.
The only downside to any of these clamps is that they do leave about a 1/16-1/8 inch gap between the two panels you are welding up. In some cases we liked a tighter fit, so we didn't use them. But it you don't mind a little more gap they work great.
Don
The only downside to any of these clamps is that they do leave about a 1/16-1/8 inch gap between the two panels you are welding up. In some cases we liked a tighter fit, so we didn't use them. But it you don't mind a little more gap they work great.
Don
NewIronRats
Well-known member
chuckles
Well-known member
Harbor frieght on sale $3.99.
Eastwood wants $29.+
Eastwood wants $29.+
CR55
It's just a little surface rust!
I've trimmed out whee the clamps will go to get a tighter fit for most of it. Generally that's been good enough for my work. But I tend to measure with my finger, mark it with spit, and cut with a hammer.
Precision measurement Sam?
I don't care for those butt clamps. Don't like the distance they leave between the pieces & it makes it hard to weld funky old thin sheet metal... IMO! Although using them I became an expert in welding up burn through holes!!!
BoB
BoB
VonHyde
Well-known member
same here i dont really use them unless i have to, i also like my gaps pretty tight, i also thinned mine down
ruggs
Well-known member
I don't much care for the gap that these clamps have but, I do have a grinder and I'm not gonna pay eastwood what they want. Can someone give me the Harbor Freight part number, I can't find them on their web site.......ruggs
Mike S.
Well-known member
I made my own too, they work great. I chopped my truck by myself, just cutting a little and clamping as I went. I used 18 gauge sheet metal for the spacer which leaves a nice tight gap and I have specific dimensions and so on if you want them. The only thing I noticed is if you over tighten them they will suck the two pieces up just enough to "crown" the joint leaving the joint as a high spot.
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sgtpontiac
Older, Wiser and Still Buildin'
Hey, post it..... sure some guys will use it...
Any of this info is useful to a lot of guys.... never can get too much info you know....lol
Any of this info is useful to a lot of guys.... never can get too much info you know....lol
Mike S.
Well-known member
2.3Turbo_T
Well-known member
They're not listed on the HF website anymore. I think they've been discontinued. That's why I made my own too. I used sheetmetal off an old microwave oven - 22ga. The gap is miniscule.
1" square tube
some all-thread
microwave sheetmetal
wingnut and an 8 penny nail
1" square tube
some all-thread
microwave sheetmetal
wingnut and an 8 penny nail
