I bought some made in Taiwan "universal" combo wrenches a couple years ago and put them in the truck toolbag. I was wondering if these were worth keeping or get something more traditional like a 6 or 12-point instead of the spline. Bonus embarrassing picture of the Totalwrench set that is going to Goodwill.
Kobalt Universal Wrenches - Gimmick or useful
- Thread starter netbrad
- Start date
mudflap
Well-known member
I have used the Craftsman spline drive sockets, and think they grip as well as any 12pts..but don't see how they would be as good as a 6pt socket..
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
When the spline or open end fails, buy new.
Zero gain from changing out.
Zero gain from changing out.
xin
Well-known member
bobcatdan
Well-known member
Spline drive overall is pretty good, no complaints with the couple spline sets I have. Matco must see it as the wave of the future as they are switching all box ends to spline in their wrenches.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Not all spline boxed ends are created equal. The Gearwrench & Matco wrenches I have work well. I think spline is great type of boxed end wrench but, I'm not sure of their usefulness in sockets though. 
neophyte
Well-known member
Spline sockets and wrenches were originally designed for actual “Spline Head” fasteners. The spline-head fasteners usually show up in aerospace or military use. Both Proto and Snap-On manufacture Spline wrenches and sockets, although the prices aren’t cheap.
I don’t know whether it was part of the original design, or whether somebody just stumbled upon the feature, but you can also use the spline wrenches ans sockets to turn 12point, 6point, torx, and 4point fasteners, and maybe some other weird festeners as well. Due to the rounded spline design, the wrenches grip further away from fastener head corners so the wrenches are less likely to round fasteners.
I believe old-SK used to manufacture spline sockets in both metric and Fractional sizes. Most other manufacturers seem to manufacture just “metric” sizes, that are dual-sized for both metric and fractional “equivalent” sizes. I’m not sure whether there are officially both metric and fraction spline bolt head sizes. Since the wrench and socket sizes don’t always specifically match the head size, there might be slop between the wrench and festener head, although the spline tools can still be used for tightening and loosening a festener, it’s just annoying if you have to finely adjust a fastener.
If you buy a set just make sure it has as many wrenches as possible to avoid gaps.
For innexpensive wrenches they’re not bad, although I would still want to have a regular set of wrenches sockets to go along with the spline.
I don’t know whether it was part of the original design, or whether somebody just stumbled upon the feature, but you can also use the spline wrenches ans sockets to turn 12point, 6point, torx, and 4point fasteners, and maybe some other weird festeners as well. Due to the rounded spline design, the wrenches grip further away from fastener head corners so the wrenches are less likely to round fasteners.
I believe old-SK used to manufacture spline sockets in both metric and Fractional sizes. Most other manufacturers seem to manufacture just “metric” sizes, that are dual-sized for both metric and fractional “equivalent” sizes. I’m not sure whether there are officially both metric and fraction spline bolt head sizes. Since the wrench and socket sizes don’t always specifically match the head size, there might be slop between the wrench and festener head, although the spline tools can still be used for tightening and loosening a festener, it’s just annoying if you have to finely adjust a fastener.
If you buy a set just make sure it has as many wrenches as possible to avoid gaps.
For innexpensive wrenches they’re not bad, although I would still want to have a regular set of wrenches sockets to go along with the spline.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I prefer to use spline box ends on spline fasteners. Call me weird. 
I think their a good option to have in your toolbox. My experience is they have gripped hex fasteners very well. Would they be my first choice on a rusted problem fastener?.. probably not but a good set doubles up to fit E-torx, hex, square, 12point and other types of fastener heads. So why not keep them, I think the multi use design has its limitations like any tool but their not a complete gimmick, most quality tool brands offer them.