Universal spline sockets

[nbpt100]

You have all seen the Universal Spline sockets and box wrenches sold at Sears, Lowes and Home Depot. They have the advantage of working on a variety of fastener heads. I get all of that.

They also claim to work on a rounded hex bolt where a 12 pt may not.

They are obviously weaker than a 6 pt socket.

It seems very gimmicky. I only see square sockets on old equipment. which is not very often. I have some 8 pt socket that are made for them and I also use open end wrenches or an adjustable in other cases. Sometimes I have used 3/8 or 1/4 drive extentions upside down with an open wrench on the opposite end.

Are the universal sockets/wrenches realy a good and valuable tool or are they a gimick that can wear out or break easily on a stubborn nut or bolt.??? What are people's honest experiences with them?

 

[619DioFan]

I have the spline sockets from HF . don't use them all the time but they work well when needed. for square head fasteners ( pipe plug style ) I have / use pipe plug sockets ( sunex brand )

 

[Wamsutta]

I used a Husky ratcheting combination wrench with the spline box end at work. It belonged to my employer. To be fair, it worked fine, but I won't be buying any spline tools unless I have actual spline fasteners to turn.

 

[gungatim]

I have some kobalt wrenches and sockets with that spline/fit anything gimmick. can't stand them. not even worth putting in a junkyard box IMO...

everything they fit on is sloppy and loose. they work, just barely.

 

[seber]

I use them for e-torx. The specialized sockets I found for the purpose were insanely high priced.

 

[BroncoAZ]

I only have spline sockets in the very small Sunex 9732 bit and socket set I keep in our cars. They seem to work fine in that application, but generally I’d rather have a proper sized socket.

 

[nbpt100]

I use them for e-torx. The specialized sockets I found for the purpose were insanely high priced.

That is a good point! Especially when you look at better quality e torx sockets. Even cheap ones can be hard to find on a week end if you need one in a pinch.

I bought a cheap set of E torx sockets at Autozone about 15 years ago for doing the struts on a Dodge. I think I may have used them twice in that time. I think I paid under $10 at the time. I am sure they cost much more now. I have
hardly ever seen the e-torx let alone actually needed to use one.

Has anyone broken a sline socket on a difficult fastener? They just seem like they are not able to handle as much stress as any alternative.

 

[neophyte]

You have all seen the Universal Spline sockets and box wrenches sold at Sears, Lowes and Home Depot. They have the advantage of working on a variety of fastener heads. I get all of that.

They also claim to work on a rounded hex bolt where a 12 pt may not.

They are obviously weaker than a 6 pt socket.

It seems very gimmicky. I only see square sockets on old equipment. which is not very often. I have some 8 pt socket that are made for them and I also use open end wrenches or an adjustable in other cases. Sometimes I have used 3/8 or 1/4 drive extentions upside down with an open wrench on the opposite end.

Are the universal sockets/wrenches realy a good and valuable tool or are they a gimick that can wear out or break easily on a stubborn nut or bolt.??? What are people's honest experiences with them?

Those spline sockets were originally made and designed for high torque spline head bolts for use in Aerospace or other demanding applications.
Snap-On and Proto manufacture Spline sockets and wrenches for the purpose.

Someone figured out that the Spline sockets could be used on a variety of different fasteners, and figured out that the off corner socket engagement meant that spline might be less likely to round over fasteners, so the Marketing went in that dirrection.

 

[nbpt100]

Those spline sockets were originally made and designed for high torque spline head bolts for use in Aerospace or other demanding applications.
Snap-On and Proto manufacture Spline sockets and wrenches for the purpose.

Someone figured out that the Spline sockets could be used on a variety of different fasteners, and figured out that the off corner socket engagement meant that spline might be less likely to round over fasteners, so the Marketing went in that dirrection.

Thanks for that history. I assume it is the same design and not slightly modified to accommodate the hex and other fasteners.

 

[AA/FC]

I dont use spline sockets or wrenches..... I'd rather just use the correct tool for any given fastener.

 

[rangernation]

+1 on h/f , can't use them on day to day , but for the weekend project , they worth their weight , just my .02

 

[General Geoff]

Properly sized spline sockets work great.

 

[Citation]

I've got no complaints about my Husky spline drive ratchets wrenches other than the stupid paint finish. No where near durable enough. I also don't user them to break tight fasteners. Still they fit as well as my 12pt ratcheting wrenches. I also have a set of "universal" metric + SAE sockets. They almost never get used and were purchased only because I wanted the Kobalt Sprague clutch ratchet they were packaged with. I've used them as "take on trip" tools. They feel sloppy but, assuming a steady hand, I can't see they are harder on a bolt than typical spline sockets. However, quite annoyingly, the set doesn't have a 15mm socket... one of the sizes I've needed on the go. I now user my $3 Bluehawk set instead.

 

[AA/FC]

Properly sized spline sockets work great.

Properly sized 10mm sockets work great on 10mm fasteners. (For example) In fact, they are THE tool specifically designed for that fastener. Im not bad mouthing your spline tools, but I perfer using the tool specifically designed for any given fastener.

.

 

[gearhead1]

Properly sized 10mm sockets work great on 10mm fasteners. (For example) In fact, they are THE tool specifically designed for that fastener. Im not bad mouthing your spline tools, but I perfer using the tool specifically designed for any given fastener.

.

Yep.....They're gimmicky to me unless I put them on a spline. Give me a 6 point socket or standard combo wrench.

 

[General Geoff]

Properly sized 10mm sockets work great on 10mm fasteners. (For example) In fact, they are THE tool specifically designed for that fastener. Im not bad mouthing your spline tools, but I perfer using the tool specifically designed for any given fastener.

.

There are two properly sized 10mm sockets in that set. They work great

 

[AA/FC]

There are two properly sized 10mm sockets in that set. They work great

Properly? Is the internal shape of the socket the same as the external shape of the fastener?

 

[M6erfan]

Properly? Is the internal shape of the socket the same as the external shape of the fastener?

I have no dog in this fight as I don't own spline anything, but either is a 12pt socket or box end.

 

[Arne73]

I find my Craftsman spline set is useful on square plugs if i dont have the required 8 point socket..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Fedwrench]

Spline can be useful but, I don't think it's necessarily the best option for non spline fasteners. I think many manufacturers use it more as a marketing angle than its performance.

 

[AA/FC]

I have no dog in this fight as I don't own spline anything, but either is a 12pt socket or box end.

Exactly...

Spline can be useful but, I don't think it's necessarily the best option for non spline fasteners. I think many manufacturers use it more as a marketing angle than its performance.

I agree. You cant tell me that spline sockets are BETTER than a propper 6 point socket on a six point fastener. Spline sockets/wrenches are just another product for tool manufacturers to sell and increase their profits. If I have a stripped/rounded fastener, then its too far gone for spline tools, too. At that point, I reach for my twist sockets.... if that doesn't work, then I'm onto other options. I've never wished I had spline drive tools for standard hex fasteners.

Dont get me wrong, if a guy loves his spline sockets, that's great. More power to him. But Im not falling for the marketing ****, thats all....