fastening seam without rivets/screws

[Chuck]

added black tank to the aft frame bay--going to cover with a single sheet of belly pan material, but I need an access panel so that the tank outlet/valve/plumbing can be accessed.

I cut a 2' x 4' piece and attached it to the frame cross-members; planning on cutting a short 2' x 1' piece that will overlap a little bit...along that seam, there should be a couple of fasteners just to make sure that there are no gaps where critters could get in, but I can't drill or use screws because the bottom of the tank is "right there"; might drill into it.

So I'm wondering if there is some kind of "clip" or some-such....something shaped like a flattened "s" that will clip on to the edge of one panel, and allow another panel to attach.
any ideas?

[PA BAMBI II]

See if you can get a local metal fabrication shop to put a Pittsburgh seam on one piece that the other can then slide into. Used on ductwork...

[Chuck]

well, that gave me something to google, anyway. thanks!

yeah: that.

after a quick perusal of the google-webs, it looks like you might be able to do this, yourself, with just a hand seamer and a hammer. But my question is: can you do this with aluminum, or is it too brittle?
most examples I saw were with galvanized/ductwork...more malleable than aluminum.

[PA BAMBI II]

Originally Posted by Chuck

But my question is: can you do this with aluminum, or is it too brittle?
most examples I saw were with galvanized/ductwork...more malleable than aluminum.

I have seen it done with aluminum...not necessarily the aircraft strength stuff Airstreams are made out of. You could have what you are looking to have made out of galvanized steel...no one will ever see it and it should hold up pretty well.

Even Airstream did not use aluminum for everything...

Save

[Chuck]

I tried it today, and it seems to have worked out good. After having a name I could search on, I saw some videos of people making the Pittsburgh seam by hand with a seamer....so I went out and picked up an el-cheap-o seamer from HF. I tried bending over a couple of scrap pieces...no problem; didn't crack or break.
I decided to just fold over the edge of each piece so there will be like a pair of "J" bends that hook together. That should be plenty to just keep the unsupported edges from flopping around.
I managed to get the 2 large pieces in place today before running out of daylight. I should be able to get the access panels done tomorrow, if it isn't pouring rain.

[bparker3849]

Originally Posted by Chuck

added black tank to the aft frame bay--going to cover with a single sheet of belly pan material, but I need an access panel so that the tank outlet/valve/plumbing can be accessed.

I cut a 2' x 4' piece and attached it to the frame cross-members; planning on cutting a short 2' x 1' piece that will overlap a little bit...along that seam, there should be a couple of fasteners just to make sure that there are no gaps where critters could get in, but I can't drill or use screws because the bottom of the tank is "right there"; might drill into it.

So I'm wondering if there is some kind of "clip" or some-such....something shaped like a flattened "s" that will clip on to the edge of one panel, and allow another panel to attach.
any ideas?

Put a stop on your drill bit so you can't go to deep. Bill

[Phoenix]

You might try making the panel a little oversized; then, use a couple of these on the corners and/or edges:

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-09213-C.../dp/B0006JLVFI

[USAtraveler]

Pittsburgh seam on leading edge, Camco fasteners on trailing edge and Velcro along both sides. (3M Dual Lock, Amazon)