Hey Rob
I was just reading a post of yours on Team Chevelle. You were asking about the Eastwood butt clamps you bought. I cant post there because I am not a member. I think that site is $20.00 a year. I wanted to tell you that I use these and Eric is right about filing a gap at these spots because when I used them they were really hard to remove after the weld. Even after I hammer and dollied the weld. I felt like I was going to bend the panel when I removed them because they were so tight. So filing a gap is a great idea.
Here is what Eric posted for you.
Alittle tip when using those clamps is to mark there location on the metal. Then take a file and remove the metal from the marked spot so clamp sits flush with the metal.. Basically you are making a notch for those clamps to sit in. That way when you go to butt the panels up you are left with NO gap. The only gap you are left with is the small little notch you made for the clamp, alot easier to weld then a gap of .040 down the entire seem!!
Leaving a .040 gap is a great way to warp the crap out of your metal as it allows the welded metal to draw more metal with as it cools and shrinks. A butt weld with NO gap will lessen your warpage factor.
Just thought you could use this info. By the way I got mine at Harbor Freight.
Paul
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