The real deal on a spline drive!

[bigredjeepone]

So I noticed that even the companies like Snap On and Wright are making spline drive sockets. They are universal to most drive types. The logic seems to be there, but seeing them as universal in the big box stores has kinda jaded me.

Does anyone use these in the professional job, outside of aviation or an environment that uses splined fasteners?

Do they really allow for more fastener contact on standard 6 point fasteners than a 12pt? For me I only use 6pt on 6pt heads. It looks to me like they may damage painted bolts less than regular sockets . . . any opinions on that? I was considering trying them on body work were panels are not painted on the vehicle.

 

[Ign]

While many dismiss them as gimmicky, I've seen several members here praise spline drive and say it's actually quite useful and doesn't slip like people say.

I don't know but I'm interested to see how the board responds......

 

[General Geoff]

As long as you get the ones that are actually sized correctly and not ones that are labeled as working for multiple fastener sizes per socket, they are excellent. I use the SK 94545 3/8" spline drive set. They grip hex head fasteners just fine, including rusted/partially rounded ones.

They also work very well on square head fasteners, engaging much better than non-triple-square 12-point.

 

[rsanter]

Snap on and the industrial companies have been making spline drive for years. Craftsman is the newbie on the block.
Spline drive was typically sold to the military and aircraft industry as there is shuck a thing as spline drive fasteners. The spline drive tools will also work on 12 point which is in a lot of military and aircraft applications

Bob

 

[gdocktor3]

While not a pro I've used Matco and Proto spline ratchet wrenches and SK sockets successfully multiple times.

 

[dimichele]

I can see them being hammered onto a damaged fastener to remove it. I don't own any though as they seem gimmicky to me.

 

[cvairwerks]

Use them almost every day at work. We have 6 and 12 point bolts as well as spline bolts all over the airplane. Spline bolts tend to be very high strength and use higher torque values. The spline socket or wrench will work on 6 or 12 point bolts besides the spline heads. Also, since most of our fasteners are installed wet, with sealant, or get cap sealed, it takes minimal removal of the sealant before you can loosen it, as you can drive the spline over the fastener fairly easily.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Who's the lady in the picture?

Quite the looker!

 

[T45]

Just going to add that ("true") Spline is mathematically equivalent/compatible to SAE and so its not mathematically OK with torx or metric (except by coincidence). This is a feature not a bug -- and why it works with 12/6pt hexagon SAE.

 

[ecotec]

I like 12pt combos for electrical work. I go squid for metric (pliers wrench, cobras, or adjustable).

 

[Stevenn1]

...Spline bolts tend to be very high strength and use higher torque values....

So buy good quality!

 

[Loscaldazar]

While many dismiss them as gimmicky, I've seen several members here praise spline drive and say it's actually quite useful and doesn't slip like people say.

I don't know but I'm interested to see how the board responds......

The issue most people have with spline drive is that most examples of it out there (that they are familiar with) are from Craftsman/Kobalt/Husky/etc. These companies often released spline tools that were Metric and SAE in one, which turned off a lot of people. Some Metric/SAE sizes are close to each other, but others are a little far off and results in sloppy fit and rounding of fasteners. Not something you want to use on important or stuck fasteners.

Professional grade spline drive stuff is fine since it is created to fit only SAE or Metric, not both. These are the sockets/wrenches that Snap On/Proto/etc came out with.

"Universal" fit (metric/SAE in one) spline= bad, SAE or Metric only spline=good

Just going to add that ("true") Spline is mathematically equivalent/compatible to SAE and so its not mathematically OK with torx or metric (except by coincidence). This is a feature not a bug -- and why it works with 12/6pt hexagon SAE.

I may be misunderstanding you, but there are Metric standards for metric spline fasteners too as far back as 1975. True spline is not just SAE, just as 12pt or 6pt bolts are not just SAE or Metric, they can be both. It's simply a design style.

 

[bigredjeepone]

Who's the lady in the picture?

Quite the looker!

That's the wife a few years ago on a fishing trip.

 

[cvairwerks]

So buy good quality!

Yep, all of ours are either Snap On or Stahlwille, depending on drive size.

 

[bigredjeepone]

Thanks for the input. I think I may pic up a Snap On set.