6 pt or 12 pt - help educate me!

[trboxman]

I'm still confused. I can go buy new 12pt sockets all day long, are they not modern?

 

[el tanque prohibido]

I'm still confused. I can go buy new 12pt sockets all day long, are they not modern?

Most modern sockets have the flank drive. You gotta go back pretty far to get a socket that doesn't have it. Even the new HF Pittsburgh sockets have flank drive.

 

[geologist]

My sockets are mostly 6 point but my combination wrenches are all 12 point. The exception being some of my SK wrenches that i have picked at fleamarkets.

 

[autox320]

Usually look for 6pt first, but even browsing lots of SK lately I noticed something. The 1/2" drive sockets I really want for larger sizes are all 12pt. This goes for the sets. The initial 1/2" set will be 6pt with a expansion of 12pt sockets to cover larger up to 36mm sizes. Also impact style in the larger ones are on the list. I was surprised to see the larger set in 12pt only.

Tool discussion board moves fast day to day have to look back a few pages to catch all the talk

 

[oldtools]

You won't find sockets like that anymore except for real old sockets. Modern sockets have off-corner engagement (Flank Drive). So the old 6-point verses 12-point argument is mute.

It doesn't matter if it is flange drive or not. 6pt flange drive will less likely to round off a bolt than a 12pt flange drive.

 

[oldtools]

Keep forgetting to attach the higher res.

 

[el tanque prohibido]

I've never rounded off a nut with a 12-point flank drive and haven't seen anybody else do so either; I suppose it's possible though.

 

[CaseyJoes.]

Even with flank drive, a 6pt is less likely to round off a fastener (ESPECIALLY a fastener that is soft metal or small diameter, or previously rounded/damaged) This is a known fact.

 

[oldtools]

I've never rounded off a nut with a 12-point flank drive and haven't seen anybody else do so either; I suppose it's possible though.

With everything being equal, a 6pt is less likely to round off than 12pt. But in the real world, there are too many variables that mislead people to think otherwise. A Snap On 12pt is less likely to round off a bolt than a Craftsman 12pt because CM is more sloppy (more clearance between socket/wrench and bolt head). A really sloppy 6pt (low quality tools) may be more likely to round off a bolt than a close fitting 12pt (high quality too).

 

[oldtools]

Another reason why Snap On socket/wrench is more expensive than say Wright is tighter tolerance and quality control. They may or may not have the same material strength. Let just say SO broach their socket/wrench to a tolerance of +/- .005 inch. Wright may broach it to a much larger tolerance (like +/- .010 inch) or no tolerance control at all. SO also gaurentee they meet those tolerance requirement by performing lot inspection. Wright may or may not inspect their tools. I don't know. I know CM has no tolerance control or inspection (as all the mid to low end tools).