What's a cleco?

[eubank]

Clecos hold pretty well, too. I was working on our rig some years ago and used a bunch of them to hold things in place while putting in permanent rivets. Welll, about a year later, I looked up and found a cleco still in the hole, still holding well. Duh. Took the cleco out and put in the rivet.

Lynn

[Aerowood]

Originally Posted by pinkflamingoes

I bought some electric metal shears. Can I use that to cut the belly pan, or is the material too thick to use that, instead of the Jilson Supersnips?

I could have used those supersnips when I was removing the old belly pan and saved my wrists from looking like I tried to kill myself!

It depends on the thickness and alloy of what you are using, but most likely yes.

[pinkflamingoes]

5052 .32 is what we'll be using for the belly pan.

[Aerowood]

5052, Magnesium as primary alloying element, but I'm guessing the thickness is .032, as .32 is just a tad over 5/16" thick. The electric shear will work just fine on .032.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by pinkflamingoes

5052 .32 is what we'll be using for the belly pan.

.024 is most adequate for the underbelly. Anything thicker than that is over kill.

Andy

[pinkflamingoes]

.032, yes thanks. That would be a pretty thick belly pan!!

[Tim A.]

I am sure the Jilson Supersnips work very well, but it is worth mentioning the snips my father always used. He was a sheetmetal worker and was a strong proponent of Wiss brand aircraft shears. He would not buy any brand but Wiss. Aircraft shears come in cuts-right, cuts-left, and cuts-straight models. He considered the cuts-straight version a waste of money for most purposes. Aircraft shears are not a perfect solution for all metal cutting, but I have happily used them for many years. If I am not mistaken, they are called aircraft shears because of their use for building aluminum aircraft in WWII and, perhaps, before.

[pinkflamingoes]

Thanks. We already have the shears, my husband has them for cutting formica etc. Are the Wiss electric?

You're not too far from me, over there in Lafayette!

[Tim A.]

The Wiss aircraft shears are simply muscle powered. I mentioned them because so many seem unaware of what is a very practical tradesman's tool.

Yes, Alameda and Lafayette are very close to each other!