Please ID Panel Holder Clamp Auto Panels

[Lionelgee]

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!

Details of the segment are Salvage Rebuilds UK, accessed 3rd December 2022 from, AMAZING TRANSFORMATION OF OUR CRASHED 2017 BMW 220 M SPORT - YouTube 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 it is not much 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

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Lionel,

Thought maybe Eastwoods but didn't see that type there.

I reckon a drill press and a hacksaw could make a good reasonable facsimile. Maybe the shop made them too.

Cheers,

[Lionelgee]

Hello Jacques,

Thank you for your reply. I just went back to the YouTube clip and checked the comments again. Chris was actually kind enough to reply to my comment. The clamps are called "Aperture Clamps" and they are described by Chris as being "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

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

This post is a long time coming as a reply. I could not find the exact same type of welding clamp referred to as an Aperture Clamp in UK Salvage Rebuilds. I did manage to find something that looks close to the mark and does do the same job. I thought I had posted my results back here. I checked and I had thought about posting without actually doing it. The Aperture Clamps were again mentioned on today's YouTube offering. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c31nnN3tI_4 Rob mentions the "Aperture Clamps" at the 21:33 and from there they show close-up shots of the clamps at 22:13 minute mark.

The brand I found is Wurth and they describe their product as Welding Clamp Set (Pliers & Clamps Set) Article number: 096574417. The kit comes with a set of pliers and 2 lots of different capacity clamps. The kit comes with 16 clamps. The total cost of this kit is $285.40. Each clip alone is worth $6.00 not sure if this is Australian or US dollars. Either way 'ouch'.

There is even a YouTube clip about the clamps ... accessed 15th July 2024 from, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-wXu3PX26w&t=13s

While not looking anything like the 'Aperture' clamps or the Wurth clamps - I did find an alternative that its advertisement suggests can clamp the door panels together and still allow the doors to open and close...

AES 5-Piece Mini Panel Clamp Set – 20410 SKU #1805630
• Holds panels in place for welding
• Compact design
Hold your panels in place when welding
Door can be closed for alignment checks before welding due to small profile
Compact size allows for a multitude of uses
1/2" throat x 1/2" height
5 per pack

Just copy and paste the product description into an internet search option and it should find them being sold somewhere online.

Kind regards
Lionel