Here a neat technique with cleco fasteners for sheet metal patching

[Jogyver62]

I had a few old copper buss bars hanging around. So I cut them up for cleco bridges. They work great. Plus you can weld right over them. The welds won’t fuse to copper.
The other tool is a combination cleco / harbor junk sheet metal bridge

 

[RivennHewn]

You make the Cleco/panel clamps?

That’s a cool idea!

 

[isb cornbinder]

Clecos, so simple but so fantastic. I do not want to return to life before them.

 

[speed bump]

Neat, I'm going to have to remember these tricks.

 

[WoodsTruck]

I bought a Cleco kit a while back. The pliers are so awful that I can't use them. Suggestions on pliers?

 

[Jogyver62]

I have a pair of old usa made .

 

[Jogyver62]

You make the Cleco/panel clamps?

That’s a cool idea!

Yes I did

 

[Graham08]

I bought a Cleco kit a while back. The pliers are so awful that I can't use them. Suggestions on pliers?

I have a pair of these: https://www.tinmantech.com/products/hand-tools/clecos-and-fasteners/kwik-lok-cleco-style-pliers.php

Big improvement over the Chinesium ones that you typically get in a kit.

 

[ojh]

A neat trick with a cleco is you can put a little nick in each panel (equal to the size of the cleco) and the cleco will hold both panels in perfect alignment, even in a curve. The cleco will be right in the seam.

 

[Jogyver62]

A neat trick with a cleco is you can put a little nick in each panel (equal to the size of the cleco) and the cleco will hold both panels in perfect alignment, even in a curve. The cleco will be right in the seam.

Can you post a photo?

 

[ojh]

Can you post a photo?

I apologize for the camera, I'm too stupid to figure one out.
Here's a small piece, I cheated and drilled the holes, sheared the piece and touched the holes up with a rat tail, I couldn't find a washer to back the cleco and used those 8-32 weld nuts.

Then I join the panels with cleco and backing:

With all the cleco's (its very firm and rigid at this point)

Here's the back side:

Washers are even smaller for tighter spaces with compound curves.

 

[hop up]

Great ideas thank you

 

[Rockable]

I had a few old copper buss bars hanging around. So I cut them up for cleco bridges. They work great. Plus you can weld right over them. The welds won’t fuse to copper.
The other tool is a combination cleco / harbor junk sheet metal bridge

Great tip. I think you could use small leftover pieces of copper tubing for the same. Spilt the tube on a bandsaw and flatten them out. VOILA,

 

[bad_idea]

Don't split the tube - hammer it flat and it will be double walled for rigidity.

I appreciate the tips. I have never used clecos, but have struggled with enough sheet metal.

 

[Monza Harry]

While not as rigid as your excellent idea, plumbing strap could be substituted as well as the copper pipe idea also mentioned above. Harry