12-point or deep sockets?

[throwaway723]

I'm working on building out my tool box, and so far I've been focusing on the metric side because all my family's vehicles are metric. But I want to have some SAE just for good measure. However, I don't want to buy every type of SAE socket that there is (6-point shallow, 6-point deep, 12-point shallow, 12-point deep, etc) in every drive size. So I picked up a set of 6-point shallow 3/8-drive sockets. Do you think that any of the others (6 deep, 12 shallow, 12 deep) are must haves if all I want is a minimal set of SAE "just in case"?

 

[Shelbylex]

12 point sockeets in addition to 6 point working on cars/light trucks and SUVs: do you have both shallow and deep? which drives?

I live in New England and our roads are often well salted. Thus 6 point sockets are beneficial. This lives me with question on 12 point sockets (have plenty of them but thinking about thinning my doubles and triples...) From what I read on the board, there are plenty of 12 point metric...

www.garagejournal.com

I got a lot of great advise recently

 

[belvedere]

So I picked up a set of 6-point shallow 3/8-drive sockets.

You made a good choice. This will cover most of your needs. You can add more as (if) needed.

 

[dmparksa]

I don't see a reason why you would need to add them if you've never had the need for them, but it probably won't hurt your wallet too much to pickup a 3/8" 6 pt deep socket set from Harbor Freight

You run into them sometimes when you need to use tools like harmonic balancer puller and some odd aftermarket components. But those are usually between the sizes you probably already have covered in your shallow 3/8" sockets.

12 pt for versatility is good, adding a 3/8" deep 6 pt set will probably have you covered for a long time. Pickup specific sizes as you run into them, or pickup a more comprehensive socket set and wrench set when you purchase a vehicle that uses SAE.

 

[throwaway723]

12 point sockeets in addition to 6 point working on cars/light trucks and SUVs: do you have both shallow and deep? which drives?

I live in New England and our roads are often well salted. Thus 6 point sockets are beneficial. This lives me with question on 12 point sockets (have plenty of them but thinking about thinning my doubles and triples...) From what I read on the board, there are plenty of 12 point metric...

www.garagejournal.com

I got a lot of great advise recently

That's exactly the thread I needed to read. Thanks.

 

[Komet]

Deep and shallow are must haves for me, but I do regularly encounter SAE. In your situation, I would probably hold off on deep and 12pt until you encounter an actual need for them, since it sounds unlikely. I got away with not having any 12pt until just recently, and even then I went for a minimal 3/8 drive shallow set because I doubt I'll need it often.

 

[Walkers]

A single set of SO Semi Deep is about as wonderful as sockets get. I would skip the 12 pointers. I haven’t seen a 12 point fastener in ages, and they are a little easier to pooch fasteners under high loads.

 

[dmparksa]

A single set of SO Semi Deep is about as wonderful as sockets get. I would skip the 12 pointers. I haven’t seen a 12 point fastener in ages, and they are a little easier to pooch fasteners under high loads.

I see them mostly in cylinder head bolts and axle nuts, but those are very specific sizes and you're likely in to the job for more money than a set of sockets will cost you(assuming you do some timing components and other gaskets while you're in there).

I do agree about Semi Deep sockets though. I can vouch for the Koken semi-deep as well, very nice quality for the money. And good for 90% of the situation where you need a socket.

Like with most semi deep sockets, you'll want to check for the exact height of the sockets if you're only buying one set of something. IIRC, the Koken semi deeps are a bit shorter than my Sunex semi deeps.

 

[whitesco]

My tool collection started with inherited sets from both grandparents, so I started with mostly SAE. Which was good because my first project cars were 60's Chevys and Fords. Over time had to acquire all the metrics as well. I think a 6 pt shallow set is probably a great base, wouldn't see the need to get 12pt in addition unless you have some really tight fits and low-tooth-count ratchets. I'm forever needing a deep well socket so IMO it's never bad to have a set of those but I have also seen the pass-through type (Kobalt maybe?) that look intriguing. I think they'd be redundant since I have a pretty comprehensive set but something like that would cover both shallow and deep.

Will also add that 12pt can come in handy if you ever need to turn a square-head bolt, but then again that's a great excuse to buy some 8pt sockets too LOL.

 

[dnschmidt]

To me the six or 12 point argument becomes moot once you pass 19mm or 3/4". 12 points for anything larger than that make more sense to me as you can use a breaker bar (and the big stuff is where you need a breaker bar) more easily with 12 point and rounding off becomes almost impossible unless the bolt or nut has really gone to complete ****. For 12 point just go to HF as all of their Pittsburgh and Quinn socket sets are 12 point. Only their ICON sets are available in six point. European cars and ARP bolts are very commonly 12 point so you can't completely discount 12 point if you work on that kind of stuff.