Do pro mechanics use box-end wrenches with 12 or 6 points?

[AVR2]

It suddenly struck me the other day that it's hard to find regular wrenches with 6-point box ends. They pretty much always have 12-point ends.

And that got me wondering, do professional mechanics make a point of sourcing wrenches with 6-point box ends and only use 12-point ones on 6-sided fasteners if there's no alternative?

 

[RedneckWelder]

I have only ever used 12 point box end wrenches and have had no issues. Main issues I have when using a wrench is the open end rounding off stuff that is siezed or heavily corroded and almost always on the smaller side. Most of the time in that case what I was putting the wrench on turns out unsalvagable anyway.

If you deal with heavy corrosion then you can get 6 pt wrenches. Carlyle offers them for example. For me they limit the access possibilities a little much for my liking.

 

[Fedwrench]

12 point boxed ends offer quicker engagement in confined areas. I think the only six point wrenches i use aside from some of my ratcheting wrenches are brake bleeder wrenches.
With that said, in the land of time equals money, professional mechanics will avoid doing tasks by hand, and use power tools either cordless or pneumatic whenever possible.

 

[catch2otwo]

Depends what you are working on really. I am and escalator/elevator mechanic. Everything I have is 12pt. I work in a lot of hard to reach tight places. 12pt makes it easier to get the wrench or socket on the fastener when room is minimal.

 

[ex-x-fire]

I buy 6 pt wrenches when I find them used. Larger sizes are hard to come by and in some cases you can get by with using a socket in the large fastener situations.

 

[nicks78camaro]

12 point wrenches, other than my Carlyle ratcheting which are 6 point

 

[sberry]

I got them if I absolutely need one but really lean on comon 12 pt combo. My other go to is long dbe.

 

[seanb02]

I don't like 6 point for regular combo wrenches. We had them at one job I worked at years ago, more of a pain than anything else really. The only 6 points I have is a set of SK x-frame wrenches, thought when I ordered them since they ratchet the 6 points would be fine. Takes too long to line them up to get on a fastener when working in a tight area, almost never grab them anymore. Plan on upgrading at some point soon to regular 12 points and get rid of those ones.

Just about the only time I can see a 6 point having the advantage is when you are using it as a backup on the other end of a fastener underneath of an impact wrench. Even then I've never had issues using 12 point in that application.

 

[Mr.N]

Not a pro, but wrench a lot.

12 points are cheap, everywhere.
I do miss a 6 point now and again enough that I always buy them at a good deal.

 

[sk farmer]

just my opinion but the 6 vs 12 pt argument is way overdone, especially in a wrench.

most of the guys who will say you absolutely have to have 6 point sockets use a 12 pt wrench all day long and will only bring out a 6 point on rare occasion. if they even have them.

some of it may be that a socket and ratchet may have more side load or should i say the rotation axis sits an inch or so above the fastener vs being right on the fastener with most wrenches. i am sure someone will come in and spread some technical bs to desribe it better.

 

[Wakefield]

are six point box end or combination wrenches more popular with those who work on brakes of cars in the rust belt?

 

[plinker]

I've got a Gearwrench 6pt metric wrench set at work, half of the time I use the open end as they are not a long pattern wrench by any means. They do see use with the box end at times, but not super often. In either case, I may not use them for a couple weeks at a time.

Brake bleeders are another story.

 

[richfinn]

12 point, 6 point would be a total PITA without the benefit of ratcheting as you would have to shift the wrench through a large angle to find the next engagement on the fastener.

That said I do have one Snap-On 10mm in 6 point that I use in an emergency

Brake bleed wrenches are quite useful so you dont fill your ratchet with brake fluid!!!

 

[M635_Guy]

The only 6 points I have is a set of SK x-frame wrenches, thought when I ordered them since they ratchet the 6 points would be fine. Takes too long to line them up to get on a fastener when working in a tight area, almost never grab them anymore. Plan on upgrading at some point soon to regular 12 points and get rid of those ones.

Ouch. I just ordered a set for Black Friday. Hope my experience isn't yours - I'm really intrigued by the tiny swing-arc and mechanism.

 

[dnschmidt]

At one time prior to the universal adoption of flank drive six point had a place in the world. With flank drive, and due to the fact that I live in Phoenix, AZ, six point on anything other than a ratcheting wrench, where they aren't that awful, are frankly useless.

 

[ChevyEFI]

are six point box end or combination wrenches more popular with those who work on brakes of cars in the rust belt?

Vise grips on a bleeder is a better bet to not round the hex than a 6 point. Once it's tightened and loosened, a 12 pt can be used.

 

[C lectric]

The box ends of all my wrenches are 12pt. I am a retarded electrician/millwright but only a very few times did I actually have to have a 6pt anything. In those cases it was a socket , that I can remember.
I have gone and purchased those if my kit did not already have it.

 

[The Fall]

I work on cars from the 1950s. 6-point wrenches are good when you can't get anything else on there and you need to hit the open end with a dead blow. It doesn't happen often, but the occasional use more than justifies the purchase. Again, we're talking fasteners that have been on there for decades. I've got Armstrong 6-point wrenches.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

12 is basically all that will fit most things due to space constraints. I do have the astro flank-bite wrenches, and flare nut wrenches, and bleeder wrenches. Other than that everything is 12 point, aside from the stuff I had to buy in spline (basically 12 point). In an ideal world, I'd exclusively use 6 point. We don't, so 12 is what I use. And yes, there are plenty of times where the fastener is too rotted for a 12 point, but a 6 will work. Issue is the 6 point socket can be rotated to line up, the 6 point wrench cannot, and the beam may limit positioning.

You haven't lived until you've rotated a 12 point ratcheting wrench 1 tooth at a time trying to get it to fit into an area.

Source: Am pro mechanic.

 

[Paul_The_Builder]

In my experience, mechanics who work at higher end places (especially car dealerships) will usually have 12pt wrenches, as the newish cars they work on are unlikely to have rusted out bolts that require 6 pts. I had a tech who worked at a BMW body shop ($$$) tell me 6pt wrenches were useless.

Mechanics who work on older cars are more likely to have 6 pts. I personally really like having 6pts just for the peace of mind. Also, there are few situations where a 12pt wrench is more useful than a ratcheting wrench as far as access goes, so I'd rather have 6pt wrenches + ratcheting wrenches than invest in a set of 12 pts.

 

[BiggityBen]

i have a Cornwell USA made set of 6 point metric wrenches. i use them on basically everything i can to justify the (somewhat) dumb purchase. my only solace is they were a flyer deal. professional generator tech perspective.

 

[cheechi]

12pt box end on a wrench is >95% of what's available now. It is the standard. Like it or not.

I'm from rust country and I bought a set of 6pt combos when i was getting set up. I would buy them again, but a set of long DBE are easily more valuable in a given situation unless they happen to be too long.

I am a 6pt socket guy no matter what. 6pt fastener = 6 pt tool. However, it's not realistic if you are buying a set of combo wrenches to seek out 6pt wrenches.

 

[bonneyman]

With sockets I can handle either 6 or 12 point, but with box end wrenches I prefer 12 pt.
Though I'd like to get some of those new fangled S-K ratcheting wrenches - kinda bummed they're 6 point. But as they say, "You can't always get what you want".

 

[jsaw]

For general use, 12 point. I do have a set of 6point wrenches that I use on rusted or rounded fasteners.

 

[ThePostman]

Pro
Indie now, have worked for 3 majors.
I have both, but only one set of 6 points. They are the Proto long pattern J1200MHASDT500, I added 7, 8, and 9mm. I can use them as slugging wrenches if I want to cheat on some suspension applications and hammer on them. They have a very tight fit for a 6 point box end, which is the main reason I bought them. I would never use them for the open end. Also have Wright 2.0s 12 point, I like them, perfect size to get a Hyundai 24mm trans fill plug open. The wrights I bought with open end in mind, I want to say it's set 958, but, they're at the shop, the clearances are very tight with those as well, on both ends.. These days I see very little sae, but, I have a Proto true spline set up to 1" to accommodate particular airplane fasteners and everything else. Anything above 1" is 12 point Proto. Flare wrenches Snap-On.
Ratcheting wrenches, lots of sizes, lots of makes.

 

[klitzke]

Pro aircraft maintenance and now sports car restoration. I only have ever used 12pt combo wrenches. I have always kept 6 and 12 pt sockets, full set of each (in SAE and metric). I have bought some one off 6 pointer wrenches but they are application specific.

 

[Kscardsfan]

I don't like 6 point for regular combo wrenches. We had them at one job I worked at years ago, more of a pain than anything else really. The only 6 points I have is a set of SK x-frame wrenches, thought when I ordered them since they ratchet the 6 points would be fine. Takes too long to line them up to get on a fastener when working in a tight area, almost never grab them anymore. Plan on upgrading at some point soon to regular 12 points and get rid of those ones.

Just about the only time I can see a 6 point having the advantage is when you are using it as a backup on the other end of a fastener underneath of an impact wrench. Even then I've never had issues using 12 point in that application.

I’d be interested in those X frames when the time comes lol.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Not a pro, but like to work on old ****, so I have 12 point and 6 in every socket and combo wrench I own. The 6 points have pulled my balls back from the bandsaw one more than one occasion. But the 12 point stuff works better for sheer speed and convenience.

 

[redwrench60]

Pro here as well. I’ve got 6pt combos for when I need them. Regular use is 12pt. I do find if you have quality 12 point combos you won’t need the 6 points too often but I keep them around to keep things spicy.

 

[demarpaint]

I'm not a pro, but I use both, and the pros I know do as well. To keep it brief: If I'm concerned with rounding something, out comes the 6 point wrench. If I have limited access in a tight place, out comes the 12 point.

 

[Mr_B]

12point 98% of the time .
6point has it's uses but you wouldn't want use them all the time .
sk x beams are far from great design, more about visual design than real use design .

 

[Jamming]

Aircraft mechanic here; I have 6 point sockets as my primary go to. I've got a whole drawer full of 12 point shallow and deep in SAE and metric.
With that being said I'm working on GA (general aviation) now. When I was working on Turbines I primarily used 12 point.
Understand I can count the times I use a 3/8 drive ratchet/socket in a week with one hand. However I've worn out/rebuilt my 1/4 drive ratchet a bunch of times.

 

[bobcatdan]

I have always used 12 pt combo wrenches. Recently I had a shiny tool day when the mac guy had a 10-19 6pt USA made knuckle saver 2 set for $200. Didn't really needneed another set of wrenches, but thought what the heck, I don't have any 6pt combos. I have used them a few places and work fine.

 

[dffay]

Just changed out rear diff pinion bearings on my 96 Ford Bronco. SAE all the way until the four capscrews on the driveshaft flange......12-point, 12 mm heads. Really Ford?
For all of the sockets I own, not a single metric 12 point 12 mm. So.....out comes the 12 point metric wrench. Whew.
Now I’m on the make for 12 point metric sockets.
Geez Ford.....ya killin’ me.

 

[finn]

12 point wrenches and sockets 99% of the time. Less fiddling around means they are faster.

Exceprions occur, like brake bleeders.

I get pissed when a six point box wrench ends up in my hand.

 

[seber]

I don't wrench professionally any more, but when I did it was on motorcycles. Owners get real particular about wrench marks on chrome plated fastener. For that it was six point all the way, and no flank drive.

 

[zmotorsports]

Twelve point wrenches and 6-point sockets for the most part.

 

[Al Borland]

Only 6 point wrench set I know I have are Whitworth. Haven't been used in 30+ years.
I do have a few small odd/mismatch/straggler Combo wrenches that are 6 pointers, but, again, not used.

 

[Jlarson]

I found I've accumulated 6 pt boxes for specific tasks where 12 pt's were an issue more then anything.

 

[sberry]

Seems the only thing I ever seen 12 pt metric in the general world was that Ford thing.