should I get rid of my 12 pt sockets?

[Subytech]

I have a snap on set of 1/4 shallow and semi deep sockets that are 12 pt.I dont come around 12 point fasteners.are they useful or should I just sell them and buy a 6 point set or a trade?

 

[Sterff]

I would keep them. If you were to sell them Im sure you would find a use for them sooner or later. They aren't the most used tool but, I find them handy on stripped bolts. I hammer them on and go to town .

 

[tcianci]

12 point sockets come in handy when you're using a breaker bar in tight quarters since between the 4 positions 90 degrees apart on the drive of the bar and the 12 positions of the socket you can always get some combination of the two that wil line up with the fastener you're working on.

 

[scofo]

Keep 'em. I'm ffinding more and more 12pt on newer stuff, none that small but still.

 

[byoungblood]

I can't think of a reason to keep the 1/4" drive ones. I've purged them from my main box and tossed them in my travel box. I'd at least hold on to the metric 3/8" and 1/2" drive ones, as I've run across a few 12pt fasteners (head bolts, Ford driveshaft bolts) on some cars I've worked on.

 

[chevy.stroker]

Some dress-up kits on cars come with 12 point bolts. An example is 5/16 12 bolt bolts on the timing chain and oil pan covers of Chevrolet dress-up kits.

I worked on a motor from Smiley's that had them.

 

[BloodySinner]

I would keep them. If you were to sell them Im sure you would find a use for them sooner or later. They aren't the most used tool but, I find them handy on stripped bolts. I hammer them on and go to town .

That's if you're an automotive mechanic. They're standard in aviation.

 

[Subytech]

as far as 6 point 1/4 sockets go.you guys think a craftsman or husky set will do.I try not to buy from the big 3 unless something requires a lot of torque or I use it on a daily basis.I'm in the field and don't know if the cmans will hold up.what are your experiences?

 

[DrkMtnDew]

that would be your call. i've only needed 12pt. a few times, but they (with one exception) were bigger than the sizes in a 1/4'' set.

 

[pipsters]

Craftsman 3/8" sockets will go over 150 ft-lbs (not sure how far above because my torque wrench ran out of room). No idea what the 1/4" will do but I would suspect you couldn't put enough torque on it to even come close to their breaking point.

Husky = China
Craftsman = USA

Your call I bet they'd be almost exactly the same in terms of durability.

I too am purging the 12 point sockets from my tool box I really don't use them. I have a 10pc 12 point SK impact set I use because of torque converter bolts but that's it.

 

[71flh]

Huh? 12 point sockets work just fine on 6 point nuts and bolts.
My understanding is that the 12 points are just slightly easier to get on the bolt head.

Is this like the poster who thought he/she had to use a flare wrench on bleeder screws??

Maybe there needs to be a tool legends/myths thread...

 

[pipsters]

Huh? 12 point sockets work just fine on 6 point nuts and bolts.
My understanding is that the 12 points are just slightly easier to get on the bolt head.

Is this like the poster who thought he/she had to use a flare wrench on bleeder screws??

Maybe there needs to be a tool legends/myths thread...

Sure, but I find especially on the smaller stuff 12 points tend to dig in a lot more on the softer bolt heads. Just no need if you have a 6 point to not use it.

 

[Subytech]

Huh? 12 point sockets work just fine on 6 point nuts and bolts.
My understanding is that the 12 points are just slightly easier to get on the bolt head.

Is this like the poster who thought he/she had to use a flare wrench on bleeder screws??

Maybe there needs to be a tool legends/myths thread...

there should be such a thread

 

[mtkst19]

12 point 1/4 drive metric? if so sell them. you dont need them. contact me when you want to though as ill "help" you out and dispose of them.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I hate 12 point sockets but I have a full set of 3/8 shallows. I would get rid of any 12 point in 1/4 drive. Pure worthless I have found. A set in 3/8 though would be a must have.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Why do people persist in thinking a 12 point socket will not work on a hex bolt? Those individuals don't think twice about a 12 point wrench being used on a hex bolt, why the problem with a socket?

To the OP, if you think they are worthless, let me know. I am always welcome to charity...

 

[earlthegoat2]

Just like using the socket which has the least likelihood of rounding a fastener off.

Yeah, combo wrenches have 12 point but it is kind of an uncompromisable necessity in that case. The 6 point combos are only good for special purpose application IMO.

 

[Grogan14]

Why do people persist in thinking a 12 point socket will not work on a hex bolt?

A way to justify buying more tools to themselves?

 

[William Payne]

Its funny isn't it, you go to use a 6pnt socket but its tight so you go grab a wrench to swing on to loosen the bolt whats the wrench?..... 12 point usually.

I completely understand the 6pnt 12pnt debate but it is funny.

 

[bradweingartner]

It's funny you mention that considering your user name.

I haven't seen more 12pt bolts than on a Subaru.

 

[Skin]

I dont come around 12 point fasteners.

this is funny considering your name. Some [most?] subaru's have 12pt head bolts if i remember correctly.

 

[wafrederick]

There is one 12 point socket in 1/4 drive that most Harley mechanics use,a 1/4 12 point for the bolts holding down the rocker boxes on the evololution engines.The 12 point sockets make good tap sockets too.

 

[PassnThru]

I recently filled out my tools with a complete 6 point socket set along with 6 point combination wrenches. I doubt that I will be rounding any fasteners off anytime soon - but I have learned that in any situation where a ratchet isn't present (sockets with a breaker, a combination wrench) the 6 point can be difficult to position in a space I would have never considered tight before with a 12 point. I now have fewer 12 points than 6 points but I would not get rid of them.

 

[csargents1546]

Keep them, just move them out of your socket drawer and put them in the black hole drawer.

 

[RivennHewn]

I'd buy a good sling-shot, and shoot them at the neighbors dog, or the teenagers that drive too fast on your street.

 

[malibu101]

The 12 point sockets make good tap sockets too.

Yep.
If you have a 4 point fastener, like an old nut or tap, and don't have an 8 point socket. A 12 point will work on a 4 point fastener just fine.
Good tip!

 

[therealwormey]

There is one 12 point socket in 1/4 drive that most Harley mechanics use,a 1/4 12 point for the bolts holding down the rocker boxes on the evololution engines.The 12 point sockets make good tap sockets too.

and the twin cam models models use that little terd for the pins for the brake pads in the calipers.the banjo bolt is 12pt metric but the pins and the caliper mounting bolts are standard 12pt

 

[Knuckle Buster]

Before I bought impact sockets ( other than my flip socket ), I used 6 point chrome sockets for about 8 years. It was before the internet, and theres really nothing out here where I live except one small repair garage/parts store combo that for decades was only a one man operation. I was needing a 1/2'' drive deep 1 inch impact socket for dually wheels and the parts house only had a chrome 1/2'' drive KD USA 12 point 1'' in his tool list. I went on and bought it to get one single job turned out and had planned on buying the correct socket for future dually's that came in, .. but 8 years passed before I got around to buying impact sockets. The KD 12 point was used on my impact gun every time a dually came in needing brakes, ball joints, or control arm shafts,.. and the socket still looks pretty decent. Never rounded anyones lug nuts, or cracked the socket. Those were hard years, and I had to make use of what I had. Now we have internet, .. it saves me from having to take 'road trips' out of town to buy a tool.

 

[treasureseeker]

I relate 12 point sockets to the old SAE sets that were common when I started working on cars in the 70's. I can only remember needing a 12 point socket once in 30 years but still purchased a 3/8" and 1/2" set this year just in case based on reading post on here. I don’t think you can go wrong with owning basic tools like the 12 point socket sets. I relate tool ownership to the content of Batmans tool belt.

 

[jvitez]

My Dad only had 12 pt sockets as a power electrician, so growing up that's all I knew. The first time I came across a 6 pt socket I thought "What's wrong with this one? Man, this is awkward to have to rotate it so much to engage the nut."

For the low torque application of a 1/4" drive I can't imagine much of a difference between 12 and 6 pt. Are your sets paid for? Keep 'em. Unless this post was actually made in jest and you're sitting at your screen chuckling at all the doofus-es you've sucked in, like myself.....

 

[472scout]

Wow. Learn something new everyday. I'm surprised 12 pt are not more popular.

With a ratchet using 3/8 & 1/2 drive sockets I actually reach for the 12 pts first unless I suspect the fastener is excessively tight. The 12 pts are just a little easier and quicker to get on the fastener.

1/4 drive I use 6 pt especially with real small fasteners as they tend to round off.

 

[CaseyJoes.]

1/4 drive I use 6 pt especially with real small fasteners as they tend to round off.

100% truth there. 6points are more critical for 1/4" drive than 3/8 or 1/2" by far. That is why you see some sets of sockets or the older style of ratcheting wrenches where the smaller sizes where 6pt and then once they got up to 5/8" or larger they went to 12pt. Personally I prefer 6point for everything. This is especially true because alot of the things I work on tend to be old, rusted, and stuck.

Generally speaking, you are able to apply more torque using a ratchet/breaker bar on a socket than you can with a wrench, so 12pt doesnt cause as much concern with a wrench. The ability to get the wrench in the place you need it to work is more critical so thats why most of them are 12pt.

 

[kc-steve]

Wow. Learn something new everyday. I'm surprised 12 pt are not more popular.

With a ratchet using 3/8 & 1/2 drive sockets I actually reach for the 12 pts first unless I suspect the fastener is excessively tight. The 12 pts are just a little easier and quicker to get on the fastener.

1/4 drive I use 6 pt especially with real small fasteners as they tend to round off.

Yeah, I don't think this is a viable debate as much as it is a matter of personal preference. I have used 12-point sockets for over 30-years because they are more versatile than 6-point sockets. You can use 12-point sockets on 12-point, 6-point and 4-point fasteners where you can ONLY use a 6-point socket on a 6-point fastener. Since I don't want to LIMIT my tool inventory in any way, I have both 6-point and 12-point sockets in all drive sizes.

In my opinion, the main reason anyone rounds a fastener head with a 12-point is because they picked the wrong size socket in the first place. So maybe the anti-12point socket guys are telling us more about themselves and their work habits than anything else.

Steve

 

[Old Donn]

Applies to any tool. "You don't need them till you need them." Keep the sockets.

 

[wchamberlain]

Keep em, you can never have enough sockets, be it 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, 1............deep, shallow, mid-length, impact SAE or metric!

 

[MBfreak]

I had, until 10 years ago, a fairly complete set of 1/2" 12 pt sockets from 10 to 36 mm. Used them more and more seldom since the new 6 points are really much better both on new parts and older, worn, corroded parts.
So, at the quarterly "clean out the useless stuff" event some years ago I dumped all of them.

And had to buy a 28 mm 12 point 1/2" last week in order to repair a Citroen gearbox.The main shaft axle nut was a recessed 28 mm 12 point with a maximum dia of the the recess 39 mm.
So now I am the happy owner of a twice used 28 mm 12 point and a Citroen Xantia that has all 5 forward gears!

Sense morale: Throw away your 1/2" 12 pointers if you have no use for them. If you should ever need one, buy the one you need.

OLa

 

[Wakefield]

With 12 point,is it more important to have something like Flank Drive/Wright Drive than with 6 point?
Top of the line 12 point vs. dept. store 6 point?

 

[Need4racin]

the drivershaft is held onto the axle on the ford trucks with 12 point bolts.

 

[smoky]

I've used my 12pt sockets alot on 12pt arp head bolts. just yesterday I pulled the heads off of a Mazda mx6 and the head bolts were 12pt. I would never get rid of my 12pt set, I suggest you do the same.

 

[MXblur]

Use 6pt sockets on 6pt bolts, use 12pt sockets on 12pt bolts. From a techs standpoint, If you are using a 12pt socket on a 6pt nut or bolt its simply looked at as unprofessional.