Cleco Fasteners

fritz · **Joined:** Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:19 pm **Posts:** 47

I have question about the use of Cleco fasteners
Basically, don't see any advantage over just using 1/4" self drill sheet metal screws
Clecos will work great for sheet metal butt welds applications

Clecos:
expensive
seem awkward to use.
1.drill the hole
2.load the tool & place holder
I suppose they look cool in build pics

Screw
1.Cheep
2.drill, fasten ...done

.....Just Askin...

JonW · **Joined:** Tue Dec 27, 2005 8:13 pm **Posts:** 663

I'm not sure what your intended use of Clecos is, but they are normally used to temporarily fasten/align panels before riveting. They won't damage the rivet holes as screws would.

I have used a few as removable fasteners in hidden places like inside the nosecone. They stay tighter than screws which can work loose.

RoadWarrior222 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 20, 2011 5:44 pm

I can't see myself using clecos either, I'm sure they're a timesaver in a busy shop, but figure I'll muddle through with what I've got.

raceral · **Posted:** Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:31 pm

Clecos are very useful, especially once you start to fabrciate the body panels.
They allow you to remove and install the panels as many times as necessary to get everything lined up right.
If you dont understand their usefullness it is because you have never used them.

Al

botbasher · **Posted:** Thu Oct 20, 2011 8:13 pm

raceral wrote:

Clecos are very useful, especially once you start to fabrciate the body panels.
They allow you to remove and install the panels as many times as necessary to get everything lined up right.
If you dont understand their usefullness it is because you have never used them.

Al

I have to concur with raceral.... Clecos ROCK!!!

I did several projects where I muddled through and they came out OK. Then I did a project with Clecos and it came out OK too.. it was just a lot less stressfull.. a lot neater.. lines stayed straight.. panels didn't walk.. you can remove.. fix and replace without losing accuracy.. and the best part.. it took less time! I'll never be without them again!! The work was only OK due to my level of expertise in metal fabrication.. and using clecos even helped that out!

It has nothing to do with the work load of the shop. It has everything to do with the fit and finish of the product. Screws are OK, but they have limitations and negatives.

Do you need them?? NO. Should you have them?? Oh Yeah!!!

Cheers!

KS

a.moore · **Posted:** Thu Oct 20, 2011 8:50 pm

They fall into that category of tool that once you have you will wonder how you ever did without. The HF cleco pliers are pretty cheap and if you shop around 1/8" clecos can be had for less than $0.50 a piece last time I checked.

botbasher · **Posted:** Thu Oct 20, 2011 8:55 pm

a.moore wrote:

They fall into that category of tool that once you have you will wonder how you ever did without. The HF cleco pliers are pretty cheap and if you shop around 1/8" clecos can be had for less than $0.50 a piece last time I checked.

eBurn.. you can find a set (Pliers and 25 Clecos) for dirt cheap.. Mine were $23 shipped! Perfect starter.. then you just wait and buy "lots" of Clecos (in different sizes too)... easy and cheap to build up a collection!

Be aware that Clecos DO wear out though, so be careful buying a huge "lot" of used. They may not be the gold mine you think you bought! This from my brother that is an Airframer in the Navy.. so he would know! He laughed at me when I told him how much I loved them... but he knew I didn't know better, so he let me off easy!

Cheers!

KS

ngpmike · **Posted:** Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:19 pm

Quote:

Screw
1.Cheep
2.drill, fasten ...done

If you use "tek-screws", you can leave out the "drill" part. They're very popular in the movie industry because they're quick & easy. The only problem with that is, the movie industry builders aren't known for building things to last. A dozen or so takes, then crash it and... "CUT!!!". No, I'll take rivets, and clecos make riveting SOOO much easier.

KB58 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:34 pm

It's easy to "diss" clecos if they've never been used... try using them and then say they're no good... I bought 50 and should have bought 100. Seriously.

davew · **Posted:** Fri Oct 21, 2011 7:18 am

Along the same lines look at investing in some of the small 1" Cleco side clamps. Very useful for fitting panels and the interior, plus another 100 or so home projects.
Dave W

fritz · **Joined:** Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:19 pm **Posts:** 47

True! I have not used them

In my working with stock cars on high bank ovals we only used self tapping "zip screws" for the tin work assembly, then finished with rivets.
Never had any loosen up during the season. Talk about vibration, not to mention crashes.
The car was a 450HP G body , ran a 1/2 mile 20deg banked oval

We even used the zip screws for a quick repair at the track

Still think cleco are awkward (more steps)

Just my2c

carguy123 · **Joined:** Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:25 am **Posts:** 2368

davew wrote:

Along the same lines look at investing in some of the small 1" Cleco side clamps. Very useful for fitting panels and the interior, plus another 100 or so home projects.
Dave W

I've never heard of them. Got a pic?

photoman · **Posted:** Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:51 am

carguy123 wrote:

davew wrote:

Along the same lines look at investing in some of the small 1" Cleco side clamps. Very useful for fitting panels and the interior, plus another 100 or so home projects.
Dave W

I've never heard of them. Got a pic?

Check this link. http://www.yardstore.com/browse.cfm/2,425.html

horizenjob · **Posted:** Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:52 am

Quote:

The car was a 450HP G body , ran a 1/2 mile 20deg banked oval

Kind of like a Mad Max Thunderdome...

fritz · **Joined:** Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:19 pm **Posts:** 47

thats where the phrase "racin is rubbin" came from

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