6, 8, 12 Point?

[Teken]

How many of you have 8 point socket / wrenches? I don't know how many times I needed a 8 point just for that odd angle or that last nth degree of access, and that 8 point would have saved my bacon.

Why do you guys feel the lowely 8 point has not been as popular as the 12 point standard?

I am looking in my tool box's right now and am hard pressed to count more than 24 sockets / wrenches that are indeed 8 point. All the rest are standard 6 / 12 point . . .

Your thoughts . . .

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I have some 5-point sockets and one 5-point driver..

 

[cruiser808]

Hi Teken - while I can't really speak to the popularity of 8-points, I can tell you I use an 8-point socket to open the plug to lube my FJ40 birfield joints.

 

[A29]

Used a 8-point this week end to take out a square plug in the radiator. Do not use em often. The socket I used was a pre 1947 craftsman.

 

[pedro1990]

well, im gonna go out on a limb and say very few things use square head fasteners these days (if any?). the mechanics set i bought has sockets 1/4 thru 1/2 and i say i have never used most of them. Unless you work on antique machines/tools frequently, you may only run into a handful square nuts in your life. most of the time i just use a open end wrench if i run into such fasteners. i would only buy them again if i had every other socket type already.

 

[Scout Driver]

We use 6 points a vast majority of the time due to the fact we are working on older projects that tend to be seized from rust or the fact that they haven't been apart in their existance (sometimes 50+ years). 8 point sockets are handy for anything with a square-drive plug, such as a tractor rearend housing.

On a separate note to cruiser808.....you have an FJ40........wow!

Scott

 

[Joe69]

We use 8 point sockets quite a bit on pipe plugs.

Joe

 

[willf650]

I use 8 points on a fairly regular basis but I'm not an auto mechanic. I work on HVAC equipment and the majority of set screws that hold large fan hubs on the shaft are square head. Aside from this one instance I doubt I would ever really need one.

 

[06wt]

i know 8 point as double square, cuz i have yet to come across 8 point hardware. but its nice to have a set its not used often but they are handy if u turn alot of plugs

 

[Jay H 237]

You can also use 8 points to fit taps in them and reach into difficult places that a tap handle won't.

 

[rsanter]

I have a whole set of 8 points
I use them for square plugs and taps

bob

 

[TireTracks]

I need 8points for plugs mostly. The axle fill hole on my dodge is 3/4" sqare plug.

 

[WVU Tuba Dale]

Trucks and heavy equipment (especially hydraulics) are littered with square plugs. Most will be removed regularly for maintenance.

 

[Brad54]

How many of you have 8 point socket / wrenches? I don't know how many times I needed a 8 point just for that odd angle or that last nth degree of access, and that 8 point would have saved my bacon.

Why do you guys feel the lowely 8 point has not been as popular as the 12 point standard?

I am looking in my tool box's right now and am hard pressed to count more than 24 sockets / wrenches that are indeed 8 point. All the rest are standard 6 / 12 point . . .

Your thoughts . . .

I don't mean to sound snotty, but your post makes it sound like you think 8 and 12-point sockets are interchangeable. Especially when you talk about the odd angle or the last nth degree of access.

8-point sockets can only be used on 4-point, square fasteners.

-Brad

 

[cruiser808]

We use 6 points a vast majority of the time due to the fact we are working on older projects that tend to be seized from rust or the fact that they haven't been apart in their existance (sometimes 50+ years). 8 point sockets are handy for anything with a square-drive plug, such as a tractor rearend housing.

On a separate note to cruiser808.....you have an FJ40........wow!

Scott

Well said Scout, and thank you.

 

[arkangel06]

Never had the need.

 

[Teken]

I don't mean to sound snotty, but your post makes it sound like you think 8 and 12-point sockets are interchangeable. Especially when you talk about the odd angle or the last nth degree of access.

8-point sockets can only be used on 4-point, square fasteners.

-Brad

Nope valid Q . . . I did not write it out as clear as I was thinking about it. I believe what I was trying to say is if there was a tool that was in between such as a 10 point wrench / socket which I know they make but are not as standard in the regular name brands.

With a 12 point it will grab a square, but it will be at the corners. Would a 10 point not be better in this case with more area on the flat surfaces?

 

[cruiser808]

Nope valid Q . . . I did not write it out as clear as I was thinking about it. I believe what I was trying to say is if there was a tool that was in between such as a 10 point wrench / socket which I know they make but are not as standard in the regular name brands.

With a 12 point it will grab a square, but it will be at the corners. Would a 10 point not be better in this case with more area on the flat surfaces?

Don't mind me, I'm just old school, but is there such a thing as a 10-point socket?

 

[sk farmer]

i doubt it but one never knows. i have an s-o penta socket. the only app. i know of is on water valves and or gas valves in municipalities or industry. i know i sure don't have any were i live.

 

[Teken]

Don't mind me, I'm just old school, but is there such a thing as a 10-point socket?

Here you go . . .

 

[cruiser808]

Here you go . . .

Okay Teken, thanks. I'm convinced. What is it used for?

 

[sk farmer]

Okay Teken, thanks. I'm convinced. What is it used for?

if memory serves me right it is an obscure automotive application wich means in a few years it will be on all kinds of stuf and you will have to buy a whole assortment of tools.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Okay Teken, thanks. I'm convinced. What is it used for?

Honda ball joints or something.

 

[Teken]

Honda ball joints or something.

You Sir, are very clever . . .

 

[cruiser808]

You Sir, are very clever . . .

And thank you Teken. Unlike Monday's at my work, I learned somthing and have gained a little more brain cells from this thread.

 

[Brad54]

Nope valid Q . . . I did not write it out as clear as I was thinking about it. I believe what I was trying to say is if there was a tool that was in between such as a 10 point wrench / socket which I know they make but are not as standard in the regular name brands.

With a 12 point it will grab a square, but it will be at the corners. Would a 10 point not be better in this case with more area on the flat surfaces?

Um... still not getting what you're trying to say.
The points of the socket must be a multiple of the points of the fastener.
Most bolt heads are 6-point. Hence, a 6-point socket is always my first choice because it gives the full surface engagement you're talking about. A 12-point socket (or box wrench) grabs the corners of a 6-point, and gives the multiple "angles of attack" you're talking about... "wrench won't fit on it at THIS angle, but move it a little, and now it does."

There are special aftermarket engine fasteners that use 12-point, but other than those and a few special fasteners as others have mentioned, it's pretty much 6-point bolts.

A 10-point wrench or socket won't fit a 6-point bolt. It'd have to be a 5- or 10-point bolt. You can't use a 6-point socket on a square pipe plug or antique square nut. Same principle as using a 10-point socket on a 6-point bolt.

-Brad

 

[bgott]

If you look at an eight point socket, the points are pretty sharp. If I run into a rounded off hex I'll get the smaller closest sized eight point socket and beat it down onto the fastener. The eight pointer will usually grab on and get it out. At least, it'll get the fastener out if there was any way of getting it out.

 

[MattT]

You can also use 8 points to fit taps in them and reach into difficult places that a tap handle won't.

Tap sockets, with o ring retainers, are much better for taps that 8 point sockets.

I don't use 8 points all that often but when I do use them on pipe plugs and lag screws they sure do speed up the job.