6pt vs 12pt sockets

[trdtaco]

who likes which one better.. i have been wrenching on stuff for a long time.. have a complete set of craftsman 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 metric and sae 6 and 12 pt sockets.. have never touched any of the 12 pt sockets in maybe 4 years lol.. seem to strip out heads too easy.. im thinking about selling them.. could use that money twards something else..

whats everyones thoughts.. where does the 12pt socket shine??

 

[osborn.ozzy]

12pt or 4pt fasteners and breaker bar usage.

 

[PinkLinc]

This topic has been discussed extensively in several threads. Do a search...

 

[jetmech09]

12 point. Every day. I have posted many times about this.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

IMO......

6 points are better for griping a fastener...Less chance of rounding the head of a bolt.

12 points can be helpful if working in tight areas. Also there are 12 point fasteners out there. Valve springs on jeep 4.0 enginews comes to mind.

Can't go wrong with having both sets

 

[1stblack97ZJ]

depends on how stuck the bolt is and which I grab first.

 

[trdtaco]

This topic has been discussed extensively in several threads. Do a search...

Sorry that's my bad

 

[trdtaco]

Ya I might as well keep em.. maybe ill start using them..

Prob just sell the 1/2 stuff since I barely use any 1/2 sockets..

 

[KEH]

You have both and they are paid for, I would just keep them. Sooner or later, there is a need for spare sockets like if you break one and don't have time to go get it replaced.

Wrenches, not sockets, but yesterday I had to use two 7/8 open ends to remove a broke hydraulic hose. It was in a close enough place so I couldn't apply my full strength and had to use cheater pipes over the box ends to loosen things. As usually happens I was able to tighten them without the cheater pipes.

KEH

 

[TwoInch]

on most 6pt fasteners you come across, 12pt sockets are absolutely just fine, and work no better than 6pt. they shine because they work on square, hex, and 12pt fasteners(good shape)

the only time 6pt has an advantage over the 12pt variants, is when you have corroded and rusted fasteners. on fasteners in good to decent shape, you need not even bother worrying about what you have, they both work the same.

here is the thread showing contact points of both types, you will see they grab the same spot on the fastener, with some 6pts being better, and some 12pts being better. i personally dont care which i have, unless what im working on is in bad shape, and you will know when a socket is going to round something off, you just have to notice it before it happens. take the time to look at this thread, its very informative!

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73245

 

[ianguilly]

Depends on the size of the bolt, but 90% of the time 6 pt.

 

[OEXL16B]

Real masculine men use 12 point.

 

[trdtaco]

Real masculine men use 12 point.

hahaha

 

[Charles (in GA)]

who likes which one better.. i have been wrenching on stuff for a long time.. have a complete set of craftsman 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 metric and sae 6 and 12 pt sockets.. have never touched any of the 12 pt sockets in maybe 4 years lol.. seem to strip out heads too easy.. im thinking about selling them.. could use that money twards something else..

whats everyones thoughts.. where does the 12pt socket shine??

Indeed this has been beat to death.

So, in the past, when you did use your 12 pt sockets, how many different bolts and nuts did you round off??? I probably haven't had that happen enough time in my lifetime to count on one hand, it basically isn't a concern for most people.

Charles

 

[trdtaco]

i have never personally ever used a 12 pt socket.. thats just what people have always said the they seem to round out heads..

i have all the 12pt sockets because i got them in a craftsman set.. i will start using them and see how i like em

 

[Rico.]

As has been said there is no real difference these days what you use as long as the
socket is good quality and the bolt or nut isn't mangled up. The only caveat I would
say is is that small nuts and bolts say about 10mm and smaller, I would always use
only 6 point sockets for these as the bolts at these sizes tend to be softer.

Certainly over 16mm it doesn't matter one jot... Between 10mm & 16mm... Meh..!

 

[5mall5nail5]

I just had to use a 6 pt vs a 12 pt. The bleed screw on a caliper I am rebuilding was stuck. I tried some Knipex pliers wrenches first but was walking off the flat because the fitting was just over 1/4" size prob 5/16. I switched to a 12 pt and that didn't feel right. Switched to a 6 pt, bam. No issues.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I prefer 12 point. I had a 6 point on my breaker bar the other day and I couldn't get the breaker bar in a good spot with a 6 point.

 

[Cryptic1911]

Ya know, I never use 12 point unless I have to.. and oddly enough, I had to twice today. I had to use them to get the driveshaft bolts out of my brothers Mustang, and also needed to use one on one of the ****** bolts. I had to use a breaker bar, and I just couldn't get it lined up with a 6 pt because of the space

 

[Charlie9000]

Professionally I only ever used 12 point. I found them faster to use, it doesn't really matter how the socket is positioned it slides right on.

For rounding off fasteners, I think the quality of the socket makes far more difference than the number of points. When I was still pulling wrenches for a living, I would bring my 12 point snappy tools home when I was fighting with a fastener using my 6 point Crappy Tire sockets.

 

[ajchien]

I prefer 12 point. I had a 6 point on my breaker bar the other day and I couldn't get the breaker bar in a good spot with a 6 point.

Ya know, I never use 12 point unless I have to.. and oddly enough, I had to twice today. I had to use them to get the driveshaft bolts out of my brothers Mustang, and also needed to use one on one of the ****** bolts. I had to use a breaker bar, and I just couldn't get it lined up with a 6 pt because of the space

Will this thread help you guys?

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88377&highlight=index+socket+breaker+bar

 

[trdtaco]

that will.. small things make the biggest difference

Will this thread help you guys?

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88377&highlight=index+socket+breaker+bar

 

[vga]

I really prefer my 6 point sockets to the 12 points that I have. To me he 6 points sockets seen to grip the bolt / nut more securely