6 point vs 12 point

[young_buck]

I have a collection of both 12 and 6 point sockets and wrenches, I myself prefer 6 point sockets and 12 point wrenches . 12 point wrenches will grip wherever on the bolt you set it which is good for limited space but for sockets I find that 12 points round off bolts far too easily.

Which do you prefer and why?

 

[IMStuner]

I like 6 pt because less chance of rounding off bolt.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I started on 6pt. and most all my 1/4 and 3/8 drive sockets are 6.
12 is fine on larger stuff. I bought a set of HF 1/2 drive 12s back when I had to do some flywheel bolts. Made a sparkplug socket out of one of them as well. A well-spent $10.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

not this thread again. haha

 

[rsanter]

12 pt wrenches
6 pt sockets unless I am dealing with 12 pt fasteners

Bob

 

[TwoInch]

not this thread again. haha

no kidding



anyway, the OP almost said it. people have absolutely no problem with 12pt box end wrenches, but think 12pt sockets round things off....

as long as you are using the correct size, a 12pt socket is perfectly fine on a 6pt fastener. no more likely to round anything off, unless its terribly corroded, and you should be looking at another method as is.

another one i find funny is the 12pt and breaker bar stuff, people say they are great for breaker bars because you get more positions.... but you generally only use a breaker for high torque breaking right?

 

[crewchief888]

12 pt wrenches
6 pt sockets unless I am dealing with 12 pt fasteners

Bob

me too.
i do have a couple 6pt wrenches i bought for specific jobs.

my 3/4" dr sockets are probably a 50/50 mix of 6 & 12 pt.

 

[daddy2coull]

i have both 6 and 12 point of all my chrome sockets, all impact sockets are 6 point and all my wrenches are 12

 

[dirtydogintex]

Strange - I just replaced most of my 12pt combos w/6pt cause I got tired of every fastener I came across was 'corroded'*.....




* just another way to say fasteners today tend to round off, eh?

 

[Chadwilliam1]

12 point wrenches and 12 point sockets.

my 1/4 drive are 6 point.

 

[TwoInch]

Strange - I just replaced most of my 12pt combos w/6pt cause I got tired of every fastener I came across was 'corroded'*.....




* just another way to say fasteners today tend to round off, eh?

i have sets of 6pt combos, and i find i can rarely use them because of the drastically increased swing needed....

pretty much everything here in northern indiana is corroded from the salt and such, and 12pt still in most all cases are totally fine. only on very seriously funked up fasteners do i even bother to specify a 6pt. havent rounded anything that wasnt half rounded by someone previously in a long time.

 

[Subyroo651]

12 pt wrenches
6 pt sockets unless I am dealing with 12 pt fasteners

Bob

Best Answer, as it would be mine as well.

 

[Wakefield]

Do the newer 12 points--Wright Drive,Flank Drive etc.--really help much compared to the old sharp cornered ones?
Old Bonney Loc-Rite really looks different

 

[SC-AW11]

12 pt wrenches
6 pt sockets unless I am dealing with 12 pt fasteners

Bob

Another +1 here. Also 6 point wrenches for brake bleeders

 

[acdc73]

12 pt wrenches
6 pt sockets unless I am dealing with 12 pt fasteners

Bob

me too

 

[altec876]

I have both 6 & 12 point chrome, use my 6 points as much as possible all my impacts are 6point

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I am thinking about building a 6 point set in my basement. I would like to fill it with USA made craftsman sockets while I can still get them.

 

[I van putski]

I prefer 8 point sockets.
And slotted screws.

 

[richfinn]

I only have 6 pt wrenches in the common small sizes just in case 9/10/11/12/13/14 mm

All my chrome stuff is 12pt (except for spark plug sockets)

all my impacts are 6pt

If one of those wont get it, it get torched or drilled.

I have most trouble with Torx/internal hex fasteners rounding so I would concentrate on solutions for those situations.

 

[mikefromme]

I prefer 8 point sockets.
And slotted screws.

Me too, but only if the coo is china.

 

[mrjaw14]

no kidding

anyway, the OP almost said it. people have absolutely no problem with 12pt box end wrenches, but think 12pt sockets round things off....

I agree with two inch, however I think the difference in 12 pt wrenches vs 12 pt sockets might be angle it's forced into sometimes. If you go straight on, I bet people wouldn't have an issue with 12pt sockets. But if you start pulling to a side, or odd angle, then I could see it causing an issue on a non-flank drive kind of socket.

I took a standard socket (non flank drive) and put a flashlight up to the square end and put a bolt in the business end. as long as it's straight you get pretty much equal contact on all 6 bolt corners. change it just a little and then a few corners start taking most of the load while others very little. The socket was the right size for the bolt, but was a craftsman socket that was a tad loose. I think loose sockets + off center driving = rounding. I bet a higher quality 12 pt that fit better wouldn't "let" the fastener move around in the socket as much and wouldn't be as prone to rounding. Not sure why that doesn't seem to be the case with 12 pt wrenches, maybe they aren't putting the same force on them to round the bolt. I know I can put way more torque on a bolt with my ratchet than I can with a standard length wrench

 

[Farmall450]

Strange - I just replaced most of my 12pt combos w/6pt cause I got tired of every fastener I came across was 'corroded'*.....




* just another way to say fasteners today tend to round off, eh?

operator error.

 

[Farmall450]

i have both 6 and 12 point of all my chrome sockets, all impact sockets are 6 point and all my wrenches are 12

Exactly. Same here.