Long hex sockets. Would you get ball head?

[Jacobson]

What's the difference?
Just using HF for an example.

http://www.harborfreight.com/7-pc-38-in-drive-metric-long-reach-hex-bit-socket-set-67890.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/7-Pc-38-in-Drive-Metric-Long-Reach-Ball-Head-Hex-Socket-Set-67888.html

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

The ball head lets you turn the fastener without the shaft of the hex key being perpendicular to the fastener. They can be useful in some situations.

I have both types; I use the straight-shank for most stuff, as I've sheared not a few of the ball-head style at the "neck", but sometimes they're the only ones that will work.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Ball style are significantly easier to break, but also the only thing that works in certain situations. If you are buying them from harbor fright, I would suggest not buying ball end.

 

[90zcar]

Ball ends arent really designed for torque. If your fastner is t very deep they can sometimes end up rounding out.


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[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Think of ball end hex as the universal joint for hex. You will really only use them on low torque fasteners at an angle.

 

[southalabama]

I've broken the ball off some of the ball head ones but sometimes you just can't get squarely on the fastener. IMHO both have their place in a tool box. I wouldn't limit myself to one kind.

 

[bwringer]

What we're getting at here is that you need both.

Shocking, eh? You asked the GJ Hive Mind a tool question, and the answer is usually some variation of "buy more tools."

 

[Wamsutta]

Ball hex are not strong enough for breaking a fastener free; they're just for spinning the fastener out after it's loose.

 

[Jacobson]

Thanks, it does sounds like they are not interchangeable, and a good tool kit has both.

Would you get a long hex ball or regular first? I'm open to suggestions.

I might just get this Tekton regular for starters. Good reviews.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NT2LK4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I would get a non hex ball first. I haven't ran into too many areas where I needed the ball style. If you're interested in buying on amazon, look at a company called vim. They make very nice tools and I do believe they make sets of stubby sockets to get into very tight places. You can always add an extension to a regular length socket. I would get a normal length. You can apply more torque and have less of a chance of stripping the bolt. I have an sk set, a craftsman set and a mac set. They're all about equal.

 

[JBradley500]

I got non ball long hex socket then just have ball end hex keys when I need that option. I wouldn't mind having both but it hasn't been necessary for me yet.

 

[B_Bimmer]

In your case, I would wait until I actually needed them. That'll save you twelve dollars for the foreseeable future.

 

[Koolmoose]

I have both types and find I use the ball headed ones a lot. However, I'm not trying to break loose rusty hex heads. I find them especially useful for tightening the attachment system for Thule rack stuff on the tops of my cars.

Steve

 

[T45]

get the VIM over the HF for hex stuff if you can possibly afford it

avoid ball-end hex sockets unless you actually need them (rare)

sockets are needed for torque control primarily, and ball-end is for obstructions

but most applications are designed with sufficient acess

ball end is a bit more handy on an L-key because the shape of the L key

can force the angle off axis, with a socket just use a longer extension

in very, very rare instances the ratchet will be the obstruction

so the ball end is wiggle room.