6 or 12 point your preference and why?

[LoneGunman]

I've been organizing my boxes like crazy, what's driving me nuts is I probably have an even amount of 6 point and 12 point. I'm trying to replace my multibrand sockets with Snap On a little at a time. I can't see a reason to have both 12 point and six, I mean if we figure SAE and metric 1/2,3/8,1/4 drive in both standard and deep and both 6 and 12 point we are talking about a whole bunch of sockets.

I've been organizing by drive size and socket size of course but also regular and deep and 6 and 12 point. I thought I had a ton of sockets until I starting using the HF organizers where the sockets stand up according to size and theres two slots for each size, one for standard and one for deep. After putting the sockets in them I realize I am short a bunch of sockets if I want to fill all the slots.

How many of you guys have totally complete sets, meaing 6 point and 12 point and standard and deep?

It seems some sizes or lenghts are common in six point while other sizes and lengths are common in 12 point. I'm thinking about ditching the 12 point sockets all together, maybe just keeping them in some coffee cans on the shelf or something, it would save me a TON of room.

I got the HF organizers on sale for $5 a three piece set, best tool money I have ever spent.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I have both. I pretty much use 12 pt exclusively, though.

 

[Diesel-Mech]

I have both, I use 6 pt for 6 pt fasteners and 12 pt for 12 pt fasteners and so far this system has worked fine.

 

[garfunkle24]

I have both. It becomes less important as we get ratchets with more and more teeth though.

I have both 6 and 12 pointin both deep and shallow. I know that if I didn't there would be a ton of times when I would want the opposite of what I had (either depth or points).

To simplify, in an ideal world with pristene, new, hex shaped fasteners, 12 points would be ideal. However, in the real world, where rust and heat and previous shoddy stabs by the last mechanic with his Nepalese wrenches have rendered the fastener less than perfect, 6 points rule the day.

 

[krusty the clown]

this was discussed to death in a previous thread. i usually buy only 6 pt for sockets but there are times where i have need 12pt for specific fasteners, ford driveshaft bolts and harley-davidson brake calipers are two that come up the most.

 

[daveblank]

It's also been discussed a few times that usually the 12 point will wear faster.

 

[nissan_crawler]

It's also been discussed a few times that usually the 12 point will wear faster.

I wouldn't disagree with that, but that being said, I'm going on 7 years of professional work with ONLY 12 pt craftsman sockets, and no issues.

I'm sure they technically would wear faster, but I have to wonder if it's really an issue.

 

[krusty the clown]

i'd say it's more of an issue with power tools. it would take a lifetime to wear one out with a ratchet.

 

[Merkava_4]

I have my metric sockets in 6 point so that I can easily identify them as being metric. Fractional sizes in 12 point.

 

[garfunkle24]

I have my metric sockets in 6 point so that I can easily identify them as being metric. Fractional sizes in 12 point.

What about when you need a 12pt metric? Do you keep those hidden away to avoid confusion?

 

[Merkava_4]

What about when you need a 12pt metric? Do you keep those hidden away to avoid confusion?

I won't need a 12 point metric unless they start making 12 point metric fasteners.

 

[garfunkle24]

I won't need a 12 point metric unless they start making 12 point metric fasteners.

Start? They stopped?

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

I prefer 6 points because the twelve point stuff always seems to strip out so easily.

When the opportunity comes to upgrade; I do to get away from 12 to migrate to 6.

Adam

 

[krusty the clown]

I won't need a 12 point metric unless they start making 12 point metric fasteners.

it's been a while since you worked in a shop huh

 

[davestlouis]

I have multiple sets of each. I normally grab 12 point unless I know I'll be applying a lot of torque and I want to be sure to not round it off. I have shallow, deep, normal, and he brands are Indestro, Snap-On, Matco, Craftsman, Master Mechanic, Plomb, Proto, no telling what odds and ends.

 

[speed bump]

I wouldn't disagree with that, but that being said, I'm going on 7 years of professional work with ONLY 12 pt craftsman sockets, and no issues.

I'm sure they technically would wear faster, but I have to wonder if it's really an issue.

I have worn out 12 point Cman 1/4" drive 1/4 and 5/16" deep and shallow sockets before. Also 3/8" drive 3/8" Cman deep sockets seem to wear poorly for me. Other than that I can't say as I have ever had a problem with 12 point sockets. My preference is for 6 point below 7/16" though.

For hand sockets my current setup looks like this.
1/4" all 6 point with some common 12 points for in case
3/8" Complete sets of 6 points but I am slowly building 12 point sets as well.
1/2" almost all 12 point with the exception of the Cornwell deep SAE set I am slowly building which is 6 point.

For impact sockets I go 6 point.

 

[LoneGunman]

I wouldn't disagree with that, but that being said, I'm going on 7 years of professional work with ONLY 12 pt craftsman sockets, and no issues.

I'm sure they technically would wear faster, but I have to wonder if it's really an issue.

Working in aviation do you run across the typical rusted nuts and bolts that you'd run into on older cars and trucks? maybe I ought to count what I have the most of and just stick with that. If I stay with 12 point and I have to remove something totally rusted I can always use my impact sockets.

 

[Merkava_4]

Working in aviation do you run across the typical rusted nuts and bolts that you'd run into on older cars and trucks?

I wouldn't think so but he probably sees plenty of painted fasteners.

 

[paramudduck]

Gawd Merk quit messin me up like that! I actually stopped and wondered if I'd been using the wrong sockets for a moment there!

No easy answer for the OP sometiimes one does a better job sometimes the other. Personally I like the 6's but I work on farm and construction junk most of the time.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Working in aviation do you run across the typical rusted nuts and bolts that you'd run into on older cars and trucks? maybe I ought to count what I have the most of and just stick with that. If I stay with 12 point and I have to remove something totally rusted I can always use my impact sockets.

Sometimes, yes. We ran into that all the time on the farm and still usually used 12 pt sockets, and didn't have much of an issue. *shrug*

I broke a 2" socket at work last week if it makes you feel better.

 

[trackwelder]

6 pt sockets for me i'm in the rust belt.

 

[Fedwrench]

We've beat this to death in other threads. However, I prefer six point sockets because, I feel they're stronger and are less likely to damage fasteners. That's just me, your results may vary. I have shallow, mid length and deep, plus swivels 6 points in standard and metric, chrome and impact. I also have a set of shallow metric and standard 12 points for those 12 point fasteners that I don't use a wrench on.

 

[LoneGunman]

Whats killing me is the waste of space because I have about half of each and I like my tools organized, I'll just pull one of them out and put them away, concentrate on getting a complete set of whatever one I have the most on, then start on the other one

Of course I'll need more space which means more toolboxes that I don't have room for.

See what I mean about the wasted space? My metric draw is worse. My sockets were always pretty much just thrown in a draw, I had a bunch but many were three and four of the same.

Totally unrelated to this post:
Nissan, heres a pic of my three garage rodent control specialists.

I grabbed the cart out of a dumpster at a job we are on, cats being cats had to inspect it.

 

[zuspiel]

6 pt almost all the way. I splurged on a Cman 8pt 'set', so I use the cheapy 12 pts I have almost never. I'd definitely get the 6pts first and only fill in 12pts for the 12pt fasteners that you actually encounter...

 

[Fedwrench]

See that's why I don't like the hansen racks or their knock offs. Rails can be tailored to fit the sockets you have with minimum lost space. There have been numerous threads about people on a quest for a deep 20mm socket so, they don't have to look at an empty peg. Craftsman or Ernst plastic rails are the solution.

 

[LoneGunman]

See that's why I don't like the hansen racks or their knock offs. Rails can be tailored to fit the sockets you have with minimum lost space. There have been numerous threads about people on a quest for a deep 20mm socket so, they don't have to look at an empty peg. Craftsman or Ernst plastic rails are the solution.

I bought some of the Ernst rails and screwdriver holders, I don't like them, my metric sockets are living on them now, I'll be selling them when I find the metric HF holders. I do like the Ernst wrench holders. I shouldn't say I don't like them, more like I don't have the room to use them. I can fit a lot more screwdrivers in a drawer and still have them somewhat organized without the holder. If I had fullsize drawers I could use just for screwdrivers then it would work out nice.

LOL I keep getting back to the "I need more tool storage" excuse, hmmmmmm Christmas is coming.

 

[Sniper55]

6 point all the way & just like Zuspiel said only get the 12 points that you need and what i would do is get the 12 points that you think you might need just to be safe, i don't want you to be mad at us on the G Journal or kicking Yourself in the A**

 

[zuspiel]

Your pics just came in after I posted... nice cats

You could always get some Ernst rail holders... I think I'll be going that route to save some room on the 1/2in sockets.

Also, if you're not dead set on the SO sockets, the Cman all 6 pt set

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00933207000P?vName=Tools&keyword=33207

for $300 is a killer deal even w/o any big sale (over $1200 individually). That's what I started with and it would fill up your socket organizers nicely It contains all the 6pt sockets you can handle, even a decent start on the impact ones. Just through away the ratchets IMMEDIATELY... The wrenches are nice, too, and between them and the ratcheting ones, I haven't touched my 12pt wrenches in a long time.

IMHO, the SO sockets are only slightly better. I also have my most used SAE sizes in SO (6pt). The only real advantage I can see are the rings which make pulling the socket off a non-quick release ratchet easier. That could save you from a big bruise on your head (don't ask how I know... )

 

[bchee]

Nobody has mentioned spline sockets yet. I know they might be considered gimmicky, but they could help if you're worried about wasted space.

I don't have spline sockets, but I have spline ratcheting wrenches which grab the fastener pretty well. I feel confident with them.

Here are HFs version, but of course others make them too.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96363

 

[zuspiel]

Just curious, what brand are those black and green screwdrivers?

 

[garfunkle24]

Just curious, what brand are those black and green screwdrivers?

Those look like Wera to me.

 

[ImportTuner]

I have both 6 point and 12 point sockets in SAE and metric; I find that there is less chance of rounding a nut using the six point instead of 12 point and the Craftsman 12 point sockets seem to crack alot easier. I guess it's al a personal preference.

 

[daveblank]

I wouldn't disagree with that, but that being said, I'm going on 7 years of professional work with ONLY 12 pt craftsman sockets, and no issues.

I'm sure they technically would wear faster, but I have to wonder if it's really an issue.

When I warranty them because they are flat worn out, 99% of the time it's 12 point.

 

[zuspiel]

Those look like Wera to me.

That would have been my guess, as well. A little older set before they used more green, maybe? How are they holding up?

 

[Uncle Buck]

Thread had been hashed over so very many times I cannot do it again, I just don't have it left in me!

 

[krusty the clown]

Thread had been hashed over so very many times I cannot do it again, I just don't have it left in me!

yes you can............

 

[Merkava_4]

Thread had been hashed over so very many times I cannot do it again, I just don't have it left in me!

LOL!