Spannersphere
Well-known member
Me myself I'm a 6 point kinda guy I'm just curious what other people's thoughts on this 6 or 12 argument
6 or 12 point sockets
- Thread starter Spannersphere
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kams1973
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Some like 6....some like 12.....I say both.
If you can afford it, I'd get 6 point sockets and 12 point sockets in deep and standard depths, covering 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drives, in SAE and metric sizes. You never know what you're going to need. If you stuck to Craftsman branded sockets because they're relatively affordable, (although there are MANY other good brands out there) and you went up to about 1" in the SAE sizes and 32mm in the metric sizes, you'd have approximately 250+ sockets in your collection. I try to use 6 point sockets whenever possible.
Jim C.
Jim C.
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steveo3002
Well-known member
i always go for the 6 sided
G1GRANDEUR
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not this thread again, I see this title every 4 days or so. 
Super Sport
Well-known member
Same here. Never really had a problem using 12 point. I suppose if it was a really rusted or stubborn fastener, I'd grab a 6 point. Using a 12 point is often useful when using a breaker bar in tight areas. So, for the most part I have both in my box. You can't have too many tools!
trout
Well-known member
12 point is no better with a breaker bar. worse case scenario is you take the socket off, rotate 1/4 of a turn and put the socket back on.
GIJoe4500
Well-known member
I prefer 6pt, but 12pt are nice when you need them. I'm trying to put together a full set of both, but finding used 6pt 1/2" drive sockets in a pawn shop isn't always easy.
Exceller8
Well-known member
Exceller8
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Loscaldazar
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But the advantage is you can rotate an 1/8 of a turn with a 12point socket.
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
For the people who need 12 point sockets for 12 point fasteners, get them. For the rest of us there is no argument of 6 vs 12 point. The people in the know realize that the same socket position can be made by rotating the 6 point socket on the ratchet or breaker bar or t handle or nut driver. Again, the people in the rust belt should refuse to use 12 point on external 6 point fasteners.
abvw
Well-known member
If you have all the time in the world to fix whatever you need to fix, sure. Do that for 10hrs straight trying to beat book time and see how quickly you'll spring for a 12pt set. Don't forget the aggravation that comes with butter finger in the engine bay.
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trout
Well-known member
12pt socket on a breaker bar has 12 positions it can sit on a fastener. taking the socket off and rotating it does nothing.
6pt socket on a breaker bar has 6 positions it can sit on that same fastener, but you can take the socket off, rotate the socket 1/4 of a turn in relation to the breaker bar, and get the 6 additional positions that were available with the 12pt socket.
Though I usually just put the 6pt socket on the fastener then attach it to the breaker bar as needed.
Putting a 6pt socket on a breaker bar correctly doesn't take long, no longer than putting on the 12pt, plus you should be looking at what you're doing anyways. destroying that fastener because the 12pt slipped is what will take 10 hours.
I own both, I don't even bother to take the 12pts out of my box. Unless it's in a size I don't have the 6pt in, all my 12pts are still new.
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Conductor562
Well-known member
rick carpenter
Well-known member
I have 6pt in 1/4" and 3/8", and 12pt in 1/2". Works OK so far...
Outlawmws
Well-known member
6 or 12 point ****, convert everything to square. What were they thinking when they invented all these new fangled nuts and bolts...
JJThrasher
Well-known member
Prefer 6. 12 has its uses.
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Farmall450
Well-known member
+1....
Gregg33
Well-known member
I think this topic is up there in thread count with love-hate SO, love-hate Craftsman and pro-USA.
But my personal experience is...Unless you are a professional mechanic or a ******** diy auto mechanic you will rarely come across a fastener that demands a 12pt socket and if you do you can buy individual sockets. I think u-joint fasteners and square headed bolts/ pipe plugs are the most common fasteners a 6 point won't work on.
However having said that I've used 12pts for almost everything and have never had one slip on a bolt head and only a few times it even worried me. They are also good to use on breaker bars, because it's easier to align the socket to the bolt head.
For the average person if you are buying new sockets get 6pt, but if you already got them or get a good deal on used 12pts, don't be afraid to use them and don't bother replacing them with 6pt.
But my personal experience is...Unless you are a professional mechanic or a ******** diy auto mechanic you will rarely come across a fastener that demands a 12pt socket and if you do you can buy individual sockets. I think u-joint fasteners and square headed bolts/ pipe plugs are the most common fasteners a 6 point won't work on.
However having said that I've used 12pts for almost everything and have never had one slip on a bolt head and only a few times it even worried me. They are also good to use on breaker bars, because it's easier to align the socket to the bolt head.
For the average person if you are buying new sockets get 6pt, but if you already got them or get a good deal on used 12pts, don't be afraid to use them and don't bother replacing them with 6pt.
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
As a hex shape stresses over the shape of another, the fastener may deform and the area of contact can spread. At that point, a 6 has more area.
Kind of like how a tire contact patch grows when in compression.
Which, if you read the really long thread about wrench testing and fastener contact on here, isn't the point either if the 12pt tool is a good one. I just wanted to get in on yet another 6v12 thread.
