Whats better? 6pt or 12 pt

[tmiller]

Not wanting to buy two sets of snapon wrenches i keep kicking back and forth if i want 6pt or 12pt wrenches. I have a tractor shop and am always working on tractors, just want to see what you would buy or what you like better, im thinking 6pt because its less likely to strip old nuts on these tractors? not sure
thanks

 

[rsanter]

For general purpose wrenches it would be 12pt
If you have a specific application where you think the 6 PT is needed then you can just buy a couple of the sizes needed for those

Bob

 

[jakemac]

I'm strapping into my chair for this ride. I've seen this movie before.

 

[Harrison2]

personally I use 12pt as it's just easier in tighter spaces as you have more positioning available. I do hope to get a set of 6pt tho in the common sizes I use for stubborn bolts.

 

[mrjaw14]

for wrenches I'd say 12pt. especially if it's snap on. I have 12pt and 6pt craftsman just because I got the 6pt on clearance.

Besides, a "modern" 12pt wrench/socket grips the sides of the fastener, not the points, which is what gave 12 pt a bad name years ago. The "old" 12 pt wrench would grab the points of a fastener and round them off. This is why a lot of people will, as you will soon see here, tell you to avoid 12pt. A good, well machined 12pt designed to drive the flats is every bit as good as a 6pt wrench.

Do this: shine a flashlight from the square end of a 6 pt socket and put a nut in the business end. rotate the nut until it makes contact with the socket. you'll see light in the middle of the flat portion of each side of the nut and the corner. So the area of difference between a 6pt and 12 pt isn't even engaged anyway. what counts is where the wrench contacts the fastener.

 

[LandR]

I've been burned before so now I am strictly 6pt. I also only work on automobiles.

 

[ndoran]

just like watching TV most stuff repeats every 6 weeks, just don't have to pay the cable fee

 

[Heavy tech]

I bought a set 6pt combos a year ago. I find my self wishing I had of just bought the one5/16" 6pt I needed and put the rest of the cash toward a high end 12pt set


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[SlappyWhite]

12 point here, many sets.... I have some 6 points in key sizes....

 

[crewchief888]

12 point here, many sets.... I have some 6 points in key sizes....

^^^ this

 

[wrenched87]

I'd go 12 pt. You also turn less degrees using the box end. Snap on flank drive plus is the way to go. I have a set and that's all I use. 6pt does have its advantages but I see myself using a socket for it. Hope we helped.

 

[toddacimer]

Both for sockets and 12pt for wrenches. Never had a need for a 6 point wrench, I'm a lot more likely to go for a socket of some kind before a wrench.

 

[michael murder]

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[joel63]

For general purpose wrenches it would be 12pt
If you have a specific application where you think the 6 PT is needed then you can just buy a couple of the sizes needed for those

Bob

Very good advice here.

 

[GoodEnough]

I thought 6 point is better. Less stripping.
What advantage does 12pt offer?

 

[wafrederick]

I have a few 6 point wrenches.I have one 6 point 15mm combination wrench for captured nuts.Sometimes the captured nuts don't coperate with you,spin around.I find this on 1999 to 2003 Jeep 4.0 exhaust flange bolts which captured nuts are used which spin around.

 

[CWP1616L]

im thinking 6pt because its less likely to strip old nuts on these tractors? not sure
thanks

Do you have plenty of room to swing?

 

[basspro]

I prefer 6 point sockets, 95% of my sockets at work are 6 point, because I am dealing with fasteners that may or may not be new or old. I use alot of 12pt on my vehicles at home though. When I was into hydraulic systems, the largest 12pt socket I used was a 1" SK. These were 12pt bolts on a Liebherr cylinder piston. Im sure it was actually a metric size but it is all I or the shop had that would fit. I would not get that bolt to move with heat, swepco 808, or candle wax... until I got the IR 1" drive impact out, with reducers down to 1/2" drive on a chrome socket, not a good idea, but its all we had at the very moment. Luckily this was at the end of the day. I got about half way through and the socket split, I didnt warranty that one, I bought a new chrome socket and I ordered a 12 point Proto impact socket from McMaster Carr, was there the next morning, took the fasteners off no problem. Sometimes, you just need that perfect tool... As far a wrenches, I like 12 point just for flexibility. Ill tighten a fastener with a wrench if I have to, but I always try to use a socket.

 

[Stooge]

i have a piece mealed mealed 6 pt sae combo proto set i put together mostly for brass air fittings when i used to work with pneumatic machines more. Probably didnt make much difference but i had a little more confidence that they wouldnt round off and mark up the soft brass as much.
As said above, modern 12 points arent the handicap they used to be, but i still reach for a 6 point if i have the space for it.
I never use 12 point sockets except for when i use those arp bolts on engines

 

[oldldh]

My wife bought me the last "FORGED IN USA" Craftsman 43 piece 12 point set, AND the 28 piece 6 point set for Christmas, last year...

So, in answer to your question---

I DON'T CARE ANYMORE---I"VE GOT IT COVERED!!!

 

[beatcad]

I think one of the other guys covered it. if not
6 pt sockets deep and shallow. 12pt wrenches. that's what youlle mostly use.
to be on the safe side another set of 12pt sockets.

 

[cburnscrx]

My wife bought me the last "FORGED IN USA" Craftsman 43 piece 12 point set, AND the 28 piece 6 point set for Christmas, last year...

So, in answer to your question---

I DON'T CARE ANYMORE---I"VE GOT IT COVERED!!!

Same here. I have the dreaded (not to me) raised panel USA Craftsman in both 6pt and 12pt. I have every 6pt they make and the twin in 12pt. Still need to buy the large sizes for the 12pt, but that's sooner rather than later.

Problem solved!

 

[nicksnothereman]

Not wanting to buy two sets of snapon wrenches i keep kicking back and forth if i want 6pt or 12pt wrenches. I have a tractor shop and am always working on tractors, just want to see what you would buy or what you like better, im thinking 6pt because its less likely to strip old nuts on these tractors? not sure
thanks

If you plan on replacing bolts: 12 point. If you plan on re-using bolts 6 point.

I don't use 12 point sockets or wrenches at all, in fact I avoid them like the plague. Still own them though probably bought them on clearance or when drunk.

 

[spacedoutbob]

I use 6 point for sockets and 12 point for wrenches.

Bob

 

[Dave455]

Generally better off using 12 point, especially for wrenches (6 point need to be turned through a greater angle before you can re engage).

If you are working on older stuff you won't have a problem, old fasteners are made of decent metal and are hard!

It's when you work on the newer fasteners that you need the 6 point, they are generally imported, butter softt, and easy to round off with 12 point!

In metric, I 'm lucky to have both 6 and 12 point sockets. I mainly use the 6 point. I have 12 point and some 6 point wrenches as well, but find I use 12 mostly.

When I work on older stuff it's SAE or Whitworth. I have no 6 point wrenches or sockets in these sizes and have never had problems! Perhaps in the U.S. there are some crappy imported SAE fasteners out there, but that's outside of my experience!

 

[KinzeMech]

12 point for wrenches, unless you can think of a specific purpose that needs a 6 point.

I can't believe anyone still asks the question of sockets. The answer is simple.
BOTH! You haven't collected the whole set until you have every size, standard and deep, SAE and metric, 6 point and 12 point, in each combination of those. If that's too expensive, you need to put down your koolaid (regardless of it's color), and shop ALL competitive suppliers.

 

[Farmall450]

Very good advice here.

I agree. I grew up w/ 12 point, my dad & gpa did, both pro mechanics..

 

[BFHtime]

Don't forget semi-deep. They are usually the most comfortable to use. Then, you need all those same sizes, in impact with accessories. I want every tool. Working on it ,a bit at a time.

Edited this is in reply to:
I can't believe anyone still asks the question of sockets. The answer is simple.
BOTH! You haven't collected the whole set until you have every size, standard and deep, SAE and metric, 6 point and 12 point, in each combination of those. If that's too expensive, you need to put down your koolaid (regardless of it's color), and shop ALL competitive suppliers.

 

[GoodEnough]

Wait, I can understand why you might need a 12 point WRENCH for a smaller degree to reposition.

But, why would this matter for SOCKETS? You just rotate it onto the bolt. 6 or 12 is moot since it's spinning in place to get onto the bolt. What am I missing here? Once you get the socket on, it's all about the tooth count in the rather, not the socket

 

[shoggoth80]

I have 6 and 12pt stuff. I try to use 6pt where I can. To me it's a matter of space to work with. If I can get a 6pt on it, I use it because I have an irritating history of rounding fasteners. lol.

 

[BK13]

Does anybody use/have 12 point impact sockets? Seems like (from my limited experience, anyway) that would be the one instance that would be really critical to use 6pt.

I have mostly 12 point stuff from a CM kit, but over the last few years I've been doubling up with 6 point sockets when I can, and I just bought a set of USA 6 point CM RP combos.

 

[KinzeMech]

Does anybody use/have 12 point impact sockets?

I have a few (not a set), but I have gotten them for a few select instances where I am using an impact on 12 point bolt heads (with a few exceptions, it is not common).

 

[IanG]

From my limited experience as a DIYer.

For small fasteners (thinking 10mm or less) I would use a 6 point if at all possible.
Impacts= Always 6 Pt
Wrenches = 12 Pt, for accessibility, except for small fasteners
Chrome Sockets doesnt really matter either way other then 6 pt for small fasteners.

Brake bleeder screws come to mind, where the fastener is small and the metal is sometimes soft, that even the newer 12 point sockets can still strip the edges since there is so little surface area in the first place.

 

[Wakefield]

Does anybody use/have 12 point impact sockets? Seems like (from my limited experience, anyway) that would be the one instance that would be really critical to use 6pt.

I have mostly 12 point stuff from a CM kit, but over the last few years I've been doubling up with 6 point sockets when I can, and I just bought a set of USA 6 point CM RP combos.

12 point impact for 12 point boltheads?

 

[d.mcfarland]

12 point combo wrenches for general use. 6 point sockets. If you are questioning if the bolt will cause a problem with 12 point, use a 6.

 

[DRhodes]

12 point combo wrenches for general use. 6 point sockets. If you are questioning if the bolt will cause a problem with 12 point, use a 6.

As many have said, this is good advice.

 

[SlappyWhite]

I have an interesting "question" or should I say observation... I noticed that all my ratcheting (gear) wrenches have 12 point ratcheting box ends. You would think they would all be 6 point!

 

[Flybye]

If you need a wrench, then its probably because you are already in a tight space. Job for a 12 pointer. Otherwise, I'd always simply use a 6pt socket and ratchet/breaker bar.

I'm curious about "modern" 12 pointers people have mentioned. My craftsman set is 15+ years old, and I havent bought 12 point anything since then. Now I want to compare the difference.