6pt vs 12pt

[CardGuy]

Hello All. First post here, but I've been reading like crazy since I discovered this place. Great forum!

Anyway, I've always been a fan of my all 6pt socket set. I've recently been shopping for more tools and everywhere I look there are 12pt wrenches and sockets. My question, are there any benefits to having 12pt tools? Am I missing anything besides the chance to round off more hardware?

Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks!

 

[sargeX595]

I've never understood the difference so I would be interested to know what the difference is and why they have both 6 pt and 12 pt.

Thanks,
Curt.

 

[cdseven95]

12 point bolts. (flywheel bolts on a Honda, etc.)

 

[mooman]

My apologies in advance for the sh-- storm that is about to come your way.

hint: try to use the Google search function for this site.

 

[wafrederick]

12 point 12mm on Ford driveshaft bolts and it is the same size on Kia and Hyundia headbolts.I use 6 point most of the time.

 

[Old Donn]

My apologies in advance for the sh-- storm that is about to come your way.

MM's right, this is a well travelled road.

 

[jay50]

hello all. First post here, but i've been reading like crazy since i discovered this place. Great forum!

Anyway, i've always been a fan of my all 6pt socket set. I've recently been shopping for more tools and everywhere i look there are 12pt wrenches and sockets. My question, are there any benefits to having 12pt tools? Am i missing anything besides the chance to round off more hardware?
let me know what you guys think.

Thanks!

........

 

[route246]

6-points tend to round-off bolts less than 12-points.

 

[nikonica]

If you're using a handle other than a ratchet, (say a breaker bar or a non-ratcheting torque wrench, for example) 12-point sockets give you twice as many positions to choose from to get on the fastener head.

Also, my 12-point sockets (Proto Torqueplus) seem to grab the fasteners in the same spot as my 6 point sockets, on the sides of the hex rather than at the points. So I don't really think you have much to lose by using 12-points. I am, however, in the minority on this particular debate here on GJ

 

[JeremyManning]

6 point sockets, 12 point wrenches

 

[mikevango]

the threads on here are getting better and better!

can i use a 12pt socket on a durolast ratchet that i jb welded an extension on?

 

[hofferwood]

Hello All. First post here, but I've been reading like crazy since I discovered this place. Great forum!

Anyway, I've always been a fan of my all 6pt socket set. I've recently been shopping for more tools and everywhere I look there are 12pt wrenches and sockets. My question, are there any benefits to having 12pt tools? Am I missing anything besides the chance to round off more hardware?

Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks!

Welcome CardGuy
I have both, and like has been said, each has a use.
I buy whatever I get a killer deal on,need it or not
And ask any question you want, ignore the "Search whiners".
If we all searched every thing, then there would be no new posts.
J.M.F.O.
Chuck

 

[DrkMtnDew]

i perfer 6pt. sockets and 12pt. wrenches. 6pt. are shaped like the fasteners they are on tend to slip less. 12pt. is easier to get on to a fastener. the reason that 12pt. has such a bad name is because of older and cheaper sockets. they gripped the corner of the fastener and where very likely to round the corner. modern sockets grip a lot better and reduced slipping greatly. if you spend the money and get descent tools both will work good.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

How about an easy test. Drop your drawers, put your left testicle on top of a 17mm 12 point socket. Do the same to your right testicle with a 17mm 6 point socket. Now take a 32 oz dead blow hammer and hammer each testicle into its respective socket.

Now that you have a tight fit, please give us your evaluation of which one fits your nuts better, the 12 point socket or the 6 point socket. Be sure to give us an honest evaluation of your test even if the results fly in the face of reason.

 

[MrMark]

I think the modern 12 point with flank drive is pretty much safe to use on any fastener without fear of rounding. People have no problem with 12 point wrenches (cranking on them) so I don't see the problem with 12 pt sockets. I don't have many though . . . but I wouldn't hesitate to use them on anything but a drain plug. For that I only use a 6 point socket because it is soft and it has to be used repeatedly over a long life. I feel for that one bolt a 6 point offers the best chance to keep it free of damage.

 

[chewy7]

 

[mjn]

How about an easy test. Drop your drawers, put your left testicle on top of a 17mm 12 point socket. Do the same to your right testicle with a 17mm 6 point socket. Now take a 32 oz dead blow hammer and hammer each testicle into its respective socket.

Now that you have a tight fit, please give us your evaluation of which one fits your nuts better, the 12 point socket or the 6 point socket. Be sure to give us an honest evaluation of your test even if the results fly in the face of reason.

can we use smaller socket if need be lol

 

[bobcatdan]

If you only have one set, 6 pt sockets. I bought 12 pts when I worked at Deere, a lot of 12 pt bolts on engines. I base my opion on the fact I don't care what the socket is , I will use a chrome on an impact and found very early on 12 pt chrome don't work well in that application.

 

[GSteg]

How about an easy test. Drop your drawers, put your left testicle on top of a 17mm 12 point socket. Do the same to your right testicle with a 17mm 6 point socket. Now take a 32 oz dead blow hammer and hammer each testicle into its respective socket.

Now that you have a tight fit, please give us your evaluation of which one fits your nuts better, the 12 point socket or the 6 point socket. Be sure to give us an honest evaluation of your test even if the results fly in the face of reason.

Does it matter if we're using 3/8" or 1/2" sockets?

 

[Kirbot]

I have a lot of 6 point and 12 point sockets.
Honestly, most of the time I'll use whichever one is within arms reach.

I don't have any trouble with bolts rounding off.

 

[Gtamazing]

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

can we use smaller socket if need be lol

Does it matter if we're using 3/8" or 1/2" sockets?

You can reduce or enlarge the socket size depending on the size of your nuts. I would suggest if you go larger than 17mm that you use 1/2" drive to make it easier to crack a nut. For those of you that need to go down to a 12mm socket or smaller, a little 1/4" drive should suffice...

 

[Gregg33]

6 point sockets, 12 point wrenches

With the odd exception, this is very true. Also note that most 1/4 drive sockets only come in 6pt as they are to small to manufacture as 12 pt.

 

[leod]

i have only 6pt sockets and 12 pt wrenches.
although i plan to add 12pt sockets in the future.

 

[shampoop]

I NEVER use 12pt sockets unless it's on a 12pt fastener. I don't even keep any 12pt sockets in my toolbox because they're a waste of space. I just keep them all mixed up in a cardboard box in the corner.

 

[DodgeZ]

funny, I have been looking at getting sockets and my first thought was who the H would get 12pt they are weaker. After reading this thread and thinking about it.... Well I have always switch off of my ratchet - 6pt sockets when a bolt/nut was real tight so that I don't break the ratchet. Well I grab a wrench and it is 12pt. And really I can't say I have had much problem with the 12pt wrench tearing up bolts...

 

[kams1973]

I use 12pt on everything with no problems. I watched a Wright Tool safety video recently, in which they state 12pt wrenches and sockets are stronger than 6pt. True? I can't say for sure.

 

[j.c.whitney]

the threads on here are getting better and better!

can i use a 12pt socket on a durolast ratchet that i jb welded an extension on?

Are you working on the Scamp?

 

[cruiser808]

. . . but I wouldn't hesitate to use them on anything but a drain plug. For that I only use a 6 point socket because it is soft and it has to be used repeatedly over a long life. I feel for that one bolt a 6 point offers the best chance to keep it free of damage.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[jeff64]

Since 12 is divisible by both 4 and 6, you can use a 12 pt. socket on both hex head or those old style square head bolts commonly found on old farm equipment, machine tools or lag screws. A 6 pt. socket limits you to hex heads only.

 

[Solid Lifters]

 

[shotgunfatcat]

I just did the brakes and wheel/hub bearing assemblies on my truck. The hubs were on tight, I broke two 12 pt sockets, put on a 6 banger and it worked. with the brake bleeders, I rounded them off with a 12 pt wrench (it was a 10 mil.) snap-on. Put on a 6 pt. watcha callit wrench after it was rounded from the 12 pt. and broke it free. it is hard to find 6 pt snap-on wrenches without buying new, and I hate that the only metric set they have is the standard length 10-15, and I hate buying everything separate. But that is just from a quick glance earlier today, so I am probably wrong.

 

[Kev442]

In the land of rust, the 6 point socket is king. Now excuse me, I have to go find some 6 point wrenches!

 

[Kev442]

Got 'em! Williams too, sweet!

 

[crewchief888]

How about an easy test. Drop your drawers, put your left testicle on top of a 17mm 12 point socket. Do the same to your right testicle with a 17mm 6 point socket. Now take a 32 oz dead blow hammer and hammer each testicle into its respective socket.

Now that you have a tight fit, please give us your evaluation of which one fits your nuts better, the 12 point socket or the 6 point socket. Be sure to give us an honest evaluation of your test even if the results fly in the face of reason.

soft or hard faced deadblow?

 

[greasemonkey44]

soft or hard faced deadblow?

softface of course if there are marks then theyll know you abused it, to the guy were talking abt try a deep well socket or bleeder wrench on bleeders. bleeders are made of same crazy soft metal