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Lionelgee
3rd December 2022, 01:41 PM
Hello All,

Can anyone identify the name and supplier of a panel clip or clap that can be used to hold outer and inner panels together in places like car door frames? I was watching a car rebuilding show produced in the UK and they showed a panel clip/clap. The clamps are small enough to allow the door to be opened and closed while holding such things as the outer and inner door sill together before they are welded in place. Rob on the video even said, "a lot of people are asking about these clamps". Then they proceeded on without naming the product! [bighmmm]

Details of the segment are Salvage Rebuilds UK, accessed 3rd December 2022 from, AMAZING TRANSFORMATION OF OUR CRASHED 2017 BMW 220 M SPORT - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nyLbwpw3XI) one of the clamps is held in Chris' hand at the 7:05 minute mark. I took a screenshot of when Chris holds one of the clamps in his hand - see attached. I have been searching online using different keywords. However not knowing the correct product name is no help at all. Lots of results come up for the butt welding clams for holding two pieces of sheet metal apart with a spacer so they can be easily butt welded. I already have a set of those - so that is not help in the search. Also, when I type in a keywords such as "panel clip auto" or "panel clamp auto" the screen floods with suppliers of all the trim panel clips.

I did find some "midget panel holders" described as either a U or a C shape clamp - a bit like a mini g-clamp. These are reported to be small enough when holding the door inner and outer door sill together and still allow the door to open and close. However they are not the same as Chris from Salvage Rebuilds UK uses.

Yes I did leave a comment on the youtube site for the clips or clamps. Then a couple of hours later someone else asked the same question. It is one of those sites where the organisation does not respond to viewer comments. However, sometimes other subscribers do know the answer and post it up in the comments section.

It would be great if someone could identify these panel holding clips or clamps!

Kind regards
Lionel

loanrangie
3rd December 2022, 04:48 PM
Butt clamps, I have a set in the shed.

Lionelgee
3rd December 2022, 05:21 PM
Butt clamps, I have a set in the shed.

Hello Loan Rangie,

From what I know to be butt welding clamps - as per the attached photo (1) in this message is not the same style of clamp that I attached in the first post or what is shown in the video mentioned in the first message at the 7:05 minute mark. See Salvage Rebuilds UK, accessed 3rd December 2022 from, AMAZING TRANSFORMATION OF OUR CRASHED 2017 BMW 220 M SPORT - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nyLbwpw3XI)

As I mentioned in my first message I too have a set of the butt welding clamps. I am trying to identify the type of clip/clamp that is shown in the UK video. As per photograph 2 attached

Kind regards
Lionel

Lionelgee
3rd December 2022, 07:08 PM
Hello All,

Well the boys at Salvage Rebuilds UK were kind enough to reply to my comment. The clamps are called Aperture Clamps and they are very old and none came up on an internet search that Chris performed last year. Thanks Chris and Rob!

Looks like I am going for the a mini "C" clamp alternative that are supposed to allow the doors to close when the inner and outer sill panels are being held. There are a couple of manufacturers.

Kind regards
Lionel

loanrangie
4th December 2022, 11:03 AM
Being on a phone i couldn't see any images and missed a lot of the text, glad you got your answer.

Busted Syncro
10th December 2022, 11:59 AM
G'day Lionel,

Did a bit of digging and found these :https://cjautosheywood.co.uk/product/door-aperture-frame-clamps-mw15/

and also I have used Cleco offset clamps : Side Grip Cleco 1" - Metal Man Tools (https://metalmantools.com.au/product/side-grip-cleco-1/) and are handy when welding thin sheet. Easy to buy online.

Chris

steveG
10th December 2022, 06:31 PM
Are the aperture clamps just a one piece affair like they appear to be?
I assume they just get hammered over the joint to clamp it together?
Does their usefulness for the door work mainly come from the fact that the back of the clamp ends up only a few mm above the sheetmetal edge - so clears the door?

Don't look like they would be too hard to make...

Steve

steveG
11th December 2022, 02:44 PM
Out of interest I came across these ones from Wurth that appear to do the same thing - but use special pliers to fit/remove them:
Buy Fixing clamp online (https://eshop.wurth.com.au/Product-categories/Fixing-clamp/31026007050301.cyid/3102.cgid/en/GB/AUD/)

EDIT: and a video showing them being used in the same application: WURTH PANEL FIXING CLAMPS (17PCS) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkCHOx43nDs)

Steve

Lionelgee
11th December 2022, 04:27 PM
Out of interest I came across these ones from Wurth that appear to do the same thing - but use special pliers to fit/remove them:
Buy Fixing clamp online (https://eshop.wurth.com.au/Product-categories/Fixing-clamp/31026007050301.cyid/3102.cgid/en/GB/AUD/)

EDIT: and a video showing them being used in the same application: WURTH PANEL FIXING CLAMPS (17PCS) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkCHOx43nDs)

Steve

Hello Steve,

Well you have managed without a doubt to find the closest example of the type of clamp that Chris from Salvage Rebuilds UK used in the YouTube video. I noticed the name "Wurth" and then registered to find out how much a set of clamps and the pliers would cost. Knowing that Wurth places a big worth on their tools I was not completely shocked by the price. The kit and the components are obviously meant to last a long time.

Kind regards
Lionel

steveG
11th December 2022, 06:01 PM
C’mon - you’re not going to make me register to find out the price are you ;)

Steve

Lionelgee
11th December 2022, 06:39 PM
C’mon - you’re not going to make me register to find out the price are you ;)

Steve

Hang onto your hat Steve. There is a combination kit of pliers and 8 of the smaller sized clips and 8 of the larger size 2.5 to 5 mm sized clips for $199.95 Australian + postage + GST. Just one of the larger sized clips is worth $7.00 AUD + GST and postage.

Now for that money it would be possible to buy 5 lots of Power-Tec 92299 Midget Panel Clamp, Set of 5 $35.69 that are pictured and they do not need a special set of pliers.

The Power-Tec 92299 are also promoted to allow doors to open and close while inner and outer aperture panels are held.

Kind regards
Lionel

Lionelgee
11th December 2022, 10:46 PM
Hello All,

Thank you Steve for finding the clips. I did a bit more exploration. The singular unit price of the Wurth clip does come down significantly when units of 20+ are purchased. This places the Wurth clip as being cheaper than the price per the calculated single unit within the set of five mini-clamps. There is just a significant hit when first buying the pliers. After that the future costs clips themselves decline.

I might conduct an experiment and get a couple of Wurth clips - without the pliers - and one set of the mini-clips and see which are the most versatile between the two alternatives.

Kind regards
Lionel

steveG
12th December 2022, 08:42 AM
I also found these which might be worth investigating...
Edge Clips - Trim Type 1 | SD Products | Industrial Fasteners & Components (https://www.sdproducts.co.uk/edge-clip-trim-type-1)

Steve