You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Keep 6 and 12 Point Sockets?
- Thread starter Bull
- Start date
JDS968
Well-known member
Assuming you're talking about chrome? I have a lot of 6-point sockets from sets, but I don't go out of my way to buy them. Maybe if you really want both, buy all your chrome sockets in 12-point and double over everything with 6-point impact sockets.
Assuming you're talking about chrome? I have a lot of 6-point sockets from sets, but I don't go out of my way to buy them. Maybe if you really want both, buy all your chrome sockets in 12-point and double over everything with 6-point impact sockets.
Yessir I am talking about chrome.
Do most people prefer 12 point. Dumb question maybe, but I don't know.
teletekman
Well-known member
A lot of my older MAC socket sets are 6 point but everything I am buying today off the truck is 12. They seem to be doing me really well.
Do most people prefer 12 point. Dumb question maybe, but I don't know.
80% of the time I prefer 6pt. Times when I want 12pt is when I'm working on 12pt hardware (duh), and in hard to reach places where doubling my odds of getting a socket on hardware is nice. Having to keeping repositioning in hopes for a 6pt to line up is a pain.
I have complete 6pt sets in all, but have been pricing some 12pt sets.
swivel 12pt sockets are the bees knees.
teletekman
Well-known member
For most every day use I use 12-point but the 6-points can be life savers when trying to remove a stuborn nut or bolt without running the risk of rounding the head.
vartz04
Well-known member
I had 6 point sets of cman sockets but now I'm fill up the empty Hansen slots and I'm putting in whatever is cheapest
cgv69
Well-known member
I'm a 6pt only kind of guy. I have never felt the need or desire for 12pt'ers and in my experience, 12pt sockets are more likely to round over a rusty bolt.
Both.
Without any explainable logic, I usually reach for 6-pt in 1/4" drive, 12-pt in 3/8" drive (unless it is some high torque bolt), and 12-pt on 1/2" drive, again, except for really large sizes and high torque fasteners.
I'm sure somebody will chime in shortly about how we are going to strip out all of our bolts by using 12-pt sockets... Maybe if they are cheapo's, but my SO 12 pt's grip great and don't seem to damage the bolts in any way.
Without any explainable logic, I usually reach for 6-pt in 1/4" drive, 12-pt in 3/8" drive (unless it is some high torque bolt), and 12-pt on 1/2" drive, again, except for really large sizes and high torque fasteners.
I'm sure somebody will chime in shortly about how we are going to strip out all of our bolts by using 12-pt sockets... Maybe if they are cheapo's, but my SO 12 pt's grip great and don't seem to damage the bolts in any way.
RangerDaleXp
Well-known member
I have both. Use the 6pt for high torque stuff and 12pt for tight areas and beam torque wrenches......
djkeev
Well-known member
My go to sockets are 6 point shallow. I've got a complete set of deep and shallow 12 point SAE and Metric shallow and deep. I've got a few select deep 6 points.
It's all personal taste and experiences. Rarely does a 6 point or a twelve point work differently on a good nut.
Dave
It's all personal taste and experiences. Rarely does a 6 point or a twelve point work differently on a good nut.
Dave
Last edited:
Keep
Well-known member
I had bought full sets of 6pt, but for some unknown reason I have started buying the 12pt box sets. No real use for them yet, but I am buying them anyway...lol
earlthegoat2
Well-known member
I prefer 6 point 100 percent of the time I am working on a 6 point fastener. However I do have a full set of 3/8 drive 12 point shallows for the odd 12 point fastener.
I say keep the 12 points at least in 3/8 drive.
I say keep the 12 points at least in 3/8 drive.
LGMechanical
Well-known member
90% of my sockets are 6 point. I do own 8,12, and etorx but only use them when needed. Big rig fasteners are always stubborn!
Flatintoone
Well-known member
Tool boxes at work (company-provided), mostly for new and clean heavy equipment, are almost all 12-point. Never have trouble.
At home, I had "6-point whenever possible" driven into me at a young age, so that's what I tend to reach for. As this board teaches me new tricks and I figure more stuff out, I've been using ratchets with 6-point sockets, and the same size in 12-point on a speeder.
At home, I had "6-point whenever possible" driven into me at a young age, so that's what I tend to reach for. As this board teaches me new tricks and I figure more stuff out, I've been using ratchets with 6-point sockets, and the same size in 12-point on a speeder.
str8axle55
Well-known member
I would say I have 95% 6 point sockets. I have been wrenching for a living for 20 yrs, and don`t really ever remember needing a 12 point. I also was trained @ a young age to use 6 point.
shampoop
Well-known member
I have only 6 point sockets. I am trying to build up a 12 point set for 3/8" and 1/2" drive sizes though as you do NEED them for some 12 point fasteners. 12 point fasteners are now very common for axle nuts on newer cars and once those cars get old enough to need new axles they will be needed. Also lots of ford driveline bolts are 12 point and many internal engine parts.
FriendOfYours
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2012
- Messages
- 303
You must not work a lot.
Tons of cars use 12pt for pressure plate bolts, flywheel bolts, exhaust bolts/studs, main caps and rod nuts/bolts, steering racks... the list goes on and on.
Nearly every motor from GM has 12pts on the rods
Tons of cars use 12pt for pressure plate bolts, flywheel bolts, exhaust bolts/studs, main caps and rod nuts/bolts, steering racks... the list goes on and on.
Nearly every motor from GM has 12pts on the rods
Benji
Well-known member
6 point most of the time except when needed for a 12 point fastener or a tight spot. Most of my sockets are 6 point I work on wore out cars and rusty trucks 6 days a week.
PassnThru
Well-known member
The majority of my sockets are 6 point. My only input is that when you get out a breaker bar in a tight space you can get in trouble real quick with a six point. So you pretty much need 12 points in the most used sizes at least.
RECox286
Well-known member
I have complete sets of 6 and 12 pt in shallow and deep,
metric and standard, 3/8 and 1/2 drive.
I'd say that the 3/8 deep 6pt set gets dirty, while the shallow and 12pt
stays clean sitting in the box.
I guess that means that I really only see the need for 6pt with the
rare ocassional need for other than that.
Uncle Bob
metric and standard, 3/8 and 1/2 drive.
I'd say that the 3/8 deep 6pt set gets dirty, while the shallow and 12pt
stays clean sitting in the box.
I guess that means that I really only see the need for 6pt with the
rare ocassional need for other than that.
Uncle Bob
I've always preferred 6pt sockets, but now that I have two tool chests, I bought another set of 1/2" and 3/8" Hansens to start accumulating 12 pt sockets. There were only a few times in the last 30 years that I needed a 12pt socket where a 6pt wouldn't work.
fivespdcat
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2011
- Messages
- 1,520
I really have no preference, unless a 12 point is required. With the new high tooth ratchets it's not a problem to line up the socket with a 6 point. I just bought whatever was cheaper, but I still have a full set of 12 points in 3/8" and all my 1/2" or just about all are 12 point. I don't mind the mix and match on my socket trays, never really bothered to try and make them all uniform...
Oh, man. Guess I'll have to buy a second set of Hasnens at some point. Yikes. I shoulda just stuck with my space-wasting gray plastic Craftsman organizer trays.
You've got a bunch of vintage cars... that means fasteners that are going to be less-than-willing to come apart easily.
Go with 6pts.
HOWEVER... when I was a kid, my friend's dad told us to have two of every tool, so that while we're working on one side of the car, the other can be working on the opposite side without waiting for the tool.
(He raced Fords in NASCAR in the '60s, so they worked on cars a lot)
I've got 6 and 12pt 1/4 drive and 3/8 drive, but for 1/2-inch I've got a full set of 6pt standards and 6pt impacts.
I have one set of deep 1/2-drive sockets, and they're impacts. Both sets of my 3/8-inch deeps are 6pt.
For storage, I've found the the Craftsman plastic rail system to be the best... they take up the least amount of space, and I can quickly grab the whole set and carry it to the car.
For my junkyard box, I've got full sets of 6pt sockets except for the 1/4-drive. I only have one of each size in each drive, but some of them overlap: like 7/16-inch in both 1/2- and 3/8 drive, etc. Plus I have standard and deep in all drives, so when a bunch of us are at the junkyard, we don't have to wait for sockets and pass the tools.
So Bull, in answer to your question... you don't have enough sockets of ANY kind until you've got two of each in your shop box, a full set in a junkyard/road trip box, and a full set for the trunk of each car.
Glad I could help!
-Brad
Murphy4570
Well-known member
I would say I have 95% 6 point sockets. I have been wrenching for a living for 20 yrs, and don`t really ever remember needing a 12 point. I also was trained @ a young age to use 6 point.
Do a head gasket on a 4.0L Jeep sometime, headbolts are 13mm 12 point. That annoyed me first time I did one.
I personally have almost no 12 point sockets. All of my stuff is 6 point. 12 point stuff will round off bolt heads much faster than 6 point will, but it does work on square headed fasteners (usually found on axle and transfer case drain plugs, etc). I buy tools as I need them, and precious few automotive fasteners are 12 point these days. Buy 6 point, and get a set of 12 point if you ever come across a job that justifies the expenditure.