Ball hex socket v. Regular hex socket

[ajchien]

Is there any disadvantage in a ball hex socket compared to a regular hex socket? It seems that the ball head's ability to be used at an angle is really useful.

 

[balane]

I like ball hex tips as well but they have two primary disadvantages.

1.) The tips break much easier than a standard hex.
2.) They don't have as much gripping surface as a standard hex and thus are not as effective at loosening particularly tight or worn fasteners.

But at any kind of an angle they can't be beat. I use both styles and recommend having both sets in one form or another. i.e., set of standard hex in sockets and ball hex in the L wrench style.

 

[WR250F]

I like the ball ends if for no other reason than at times you can reach and move a fastener without a perfect 90 degree fit. They've saved me a few busted knuckles more than once.

No way I will put a heavy arm on one unless it's the only option as once you strip an allen head bolt, life gets interesting real quick, especially if it's hard to get to.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

If used on the same fasteners repetitively, the fastener head will eventually strip out due to the smaller area the ball-head hex applies pressure to.

 

[ibedayank]

regular head to bust em loose or regular allen wrench then finish with the ballhead
regular allens can be hit with a bfh ... wouldn't try that with a ballhead one tho

 

[leg17]

regular head to bust em loose or regular allen wrench then finish with the ballhead
regular allens can be hit with a bfh ... wouldn't try that with a ballhead one tho

What he said.

 

[Davo3]

Ditto - ball ends will strip out the screw, especially on soft metal.

You'd be surprised how hard it is to get long (4" or more) hex bits without ball ends. I finally got some from Wiha, but should have gone Snap-on (because they're the same dimension all the way, vs. shoulders on 1/4 hex for the Wihas).

 

[Biomed]

There was a chart on the Bondhus Web site comparing some torque to fracture testing they did. Can't find the chart now. As I recall ball heads had roughly 1/2 the torque rating of regular hex.

 

[cortez]

The smaller the fastener the more stripping of the ball occurs when it (the fastener) is frozen or simi-frozen.

If you work on non frozen fasteners (electronic techs and such) you could get away with only the ball type, otherwise you will need both.

 

[Wakefield]

Sometimes flex bit sockets(1/4" drive ?) with hex might be good to have.

(Quick check,I only see 2 of them,5 mm and 6 mm on the Snap on site)

 

[groa944]

On bolts that are hard to access or difficult to seat, they're lifesavers. It seems to be quite easy to ruin a bolt head with a straight hex that way. Lot less likely to do so with a ball end.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Like so many other tool categories, you really need more than one hex set. One of longer ball ended sockets for easy and fast use and a set of stubby non ball sockets for breaking loose the tough stuff. Then of course you need keys. These are real workhorses. Then you need hex drivers for the high volume hex screwing you plan to do.

Just like torx, hex can really drain the wallet because hex fasteners are used when you least expect it and in some strange and hard to reach places. My favorites though, are set screws.

My favorite tool for removing hex set screws is a drill.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

In my experience, they tend to strip heads on tight bolts. Often you can use a regular hex bit fine afterwards, but for personally i only use them for low torque.

 

[Sterff]

I agree with Moose. If it is for low torque work they work well. I use them at times but, I prefer to use the regular style. I have stubby, normal, long, and extra long.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

i own both, as each of them are better in certain spots and applications than the other.

 

[ajchien]

Ok, I've got a followup question:

For the ball hex sockets: short or long?

 

[Outlawmws]

Generally I like long and w/screwdriver handles, but of course there will be times when a short one is better...

 

[therealwormey]

Ok, I've got a followup question:

For the ball hex sockets: short or long?

i use both

 

[dwm]

There are also keys with ball on the long end (the one you can't put a lot of torque on) and straight on the short end (so you can apply more torque).

If I were starting from scratch, my first purchases of this type would be Bondhus 20499 and VIM VIS112.

 

[jim2664258]

I've seen some hex bits (small, like screwdriver bits) included with 1/4" drive tools but I have never seen hex bits with a ball end with that purpose. Curious - anyone see something like that?

 

[larry_g]

Ok, I've got a followup question:

For the ball hex sockets: short or long?

It all depends on what will fit the job at hand. At one time I counted 17 different sets of hex keys/drivers in my tool box. Most of the time I could get the fastener out. I worked on hi-tec automated assembly equipment. The Bondus hex keys with a ball end were the goto tool and all the others were used as needed.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[shampoop]

They are very nice for german cars. I've found the long ball hex to be more useful than short ones. I don't even have a short set! Every situation i've found myself in, it's been a long ball hex that is the solution rather than a short one. VW 2.0 thermostats come to mind.

A short ball hex set is on my long list of things to get that would be nice to have, but I probably don't really need.

 

[ajchien]

Would an extension on a short ball hex bit be near equivalent to a long ball hex?

 

[Krokodil]

I prefer ball on the long end for the angle benefit and for quickly getting the screw set. Then I use the flat short end to torque the screw.

 

[CHRIS LUCKYMAN]

Would an extension on a short ball hex bit be near equivalent to a long ball hex?

In my experience, not always. Sometimes I need a long hex bit because of clearance issues - the bit holder will not fit past another part or inside a hole.