Clecos needed?

[mikeno]

I'm getting ready to order some clecos as I get close to assembling my spars. The tool list from the old forum files recommends 500 3/32 & 100 1/8. However, I was hoping someone might have a count or suggestion for how many long reach and draw clecos are needed. Thanks

[jaredyates]

500 sounds a little high for the silver clecos, unless you are doing both of your wings at the same time? I've found some use for half a dozen or so side-clamp style clecos, and about a dozen 3/16" size.

[X'N]

Doesn't bob recommend #6 screws for holding the main spar together?

[bestbearhawk1231]

Hi Mike, I looked into getting some of the long reach draw style clecos for the spars but soon found the price of them to not be worth it. I will be using hardware store screws and nuts to hold them together and provide the clamping force while using rivets to keep everything aligned hole wise. When I sat down and figured out how many draw clecoes I would need I figured one every 10th rivet hole. As for regular clecoes, I believe I have around 600 silvers and around 250 coppers. It seems like a lot, but I put one heck of a dent in the silvers while assembling the L/H flap. There are around 200 rivets in the flap spar and gussets alone. To keep the trailing edges straight, I had one in each rivet hole before driving the rivets. Keep in mind, at this point you would have clecoes holding nose ribs, back ribs, attach angles, gussets, and the nose skins on since everything will be coming apart again for deburring and priming (if you are doing that). They start going pretty quick. If you plan on building both wings at the same time I would guess that you would need around 500 silvers. If you are doing one at a time, you could probably get away with less. I also have a dozen spring C clamps which are indispensable and much easier to use than regular C clamps since you use your cleco pliers with them.