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1/4 " drive metric socket set

whitedogone

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Jan 20, 2014
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I need a 1/4" drive metric deep well set. If you only had one which would it be? 6 point or 12 point?
 
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Cab037

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Dec 24, 2013
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I would get 6 point in 1/4 drive. The 12 point look like they would easily round over a nut or wear out quickly in that drive size.
 

Scout Driver

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I've had 12 point 1/4 drive sockets that would slip on some fasteners. The same brand of sockets in 6 point had a much nicer fit on the same fasteners.

Scott
 

Haki

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Dec 5, 2014
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Since it's 1/4", I'm using the HF deep socket metric 6 points. Under $10.
 

bob15

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I have Bonney Lobular 12 Pt 1/4" dr that i have had zero issues with using for many years.....same with 12 point 3/8 & 1/2" drives.

SK and Wight make very nice sets.....though for 1/4" drive i would go with the SK's.
 

BK13

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Wow, seriously, guys, this is GJ. The only answer is both. And semi-deeps to go with them!

:)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Kirbot

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Are they any 12 point fasteners that small?

Most of my 1/4 drive is 6 point, and it has served me well...
 

defektes

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Nov 24, 2014
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Arizona
6 Point, my set is a SK set and I also have the SK 1/4 Flex, great set. I also have the Craftsman 1/4 set made in USA, for medium duty, get the Cman USA and get a good 1/4 US ratchet to pair with it.

You can run into 12 point fasteners on small electric motors, but not the common anymore, most of it is torx now.
 

JUNK-MAN

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6 point, 12 point would round off bolts too easy in that drive.
 

paranoid56

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San Diego, Ca
both. its cheap enough to have both. i had 6pt forever till i had to work on a bunch of engines where all the damn bolts were 6pt.
 
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bob15

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6 point, 12 point would round off bolts too easy in that drive.

A good lobular type 12 point socket or wrench won't round off bolts, including 1/4", 9/32, 11/32, etc.

If they 12 point, 1/4" drive sockets were so bad, they wouldn't have been making and selling them for decades......same with smaller sized wrenches.....
 

T45

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Craftsman usa are 6pt and worth looking for. Thin walls + deep broaching +decent hardness. Lots of old stock still on shelves out there.
 
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whitedogone

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I think I'd like the cm usa set over the gearwrench. Although it does appear double the price of the gearwrench stuff.
 

stage20

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what is your budget and how often will you use them? dirt cheap building supplies has 1/4 and 3/8s husky sets right now 70% off. final price is 3.89+ tax. hard to argue that price.
 

wild cowboy

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6-point and Kobalt at Lowes is probably the best quality for the dollar, and especially if you consider the ease of warranty - convenient locations and no questions asked!

not sure their 1/4" deeps are available in 6 points though. - would probably get USA Craftsman for those.

the advantage over Husky at Home Depot is Taiwan vs. China
 
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Wamsutta

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Amarillo, Texas
I rounded off a hex head screw today while taking my barbecue apart for cleaning. The hex size was 5/16 and it was in there too tight to back out with my nut driver. I then reached for a 3/8 drive 5/16 12-point socket and a speed handle. Rounded off the hex head screw immediately.

At that point, I would have tried a 6-point 1/4 drive 5/16 if I had one, but I didn't have one, so I grabbed an 8mm Kobalt 6-point socket with a long extension and backed the screw right out. I was amazed because the 8mm really wasn't the correct size, but it still grabbed the rounded off 5/16 hex head screw no problem.
 

T45

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The aerospace guys aren't afraid of 12 pts in 1/4 drive, but ... they are using high-grade fasteners. Soft and Stuck is no bueno with 12 pt removals. Brake bleeders come to mind.
 

1950mercury

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I love my semi deep sk. But also have cm,hf,so and gw. Only ever broke an older usa cm. If you want to go cheap get some hf pro. I like the fact that the gw,sk and so have a step on the outside the are alot easier to take of a reg ratchet when your hands are greasy
 

rhandwor

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Oct 10, 2008
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Some bolt heads have a slight taper and a 6 point works better a 12 point has to be exactly flush.
I have a set of multidrive and I still use my six points.
 

wafrederick

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Jul 3, 2010
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Holton,Mi
The Craftsman 1/4 drive deepwells don't fit in some spots.Some ignition modules,a thinner 5.5mm deepwell has to be used and have seen this with some Ford ignition modules.I have found some of the 12 point sockets are also good for tap sockets
 
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ihateminimumwage

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Jan 26, 2012
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If COO isn't a factor, Gearwrench sockets are extremely nice fit and finish, as are the Taiwan made Williams (Blue Point). If looking for USA, old stock Craftsman will get the job done (although the fit can be a little iffy on the later USA made stuff), or go with a nice set of SK or Williams USA (my set actually had a Snap-On socket on the rail).

As far as 6 or 12pt, a good set of 12 points (quality fit and not worn to ****) on the correct sized fastener won't round off any worse than a 6 point in the same size, but I've always had much more use out of my 6 point 1/4" sockets than the 12 point (mostly used for 12 point bolts or taps).
 

T45

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The Craftsman 1/4 drive deepwells don't fit in some spots.Some ignition modules,a thinner 5.5mm deepwell has to be used and have seen this with some Ford ignition modules.I have found some of the 12 point sockets are also good for tap sockets


What are you using? something thinner or shorter? :headscrat

My cman usa's were NOS but they are thin as they come. The only thin I can imagine is either they changed production or maybe some brands just **** at some sizes.
 

wafrederick

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What are you using? something thinner or shorter? :headscrat

My cman usa's were NOS but they are thin as they come. The only thin I can imagine is either they changed production or maybe some brands just **** at some sizes.

The Craftsman deepwells,the outside diameter is a little too fat to get inside hole to get to the little 5.5mm bolts holding in the Ford ignition modules.So far have found the Snap On and Sk deepwells fit in with no problem.
 
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