Why 6pt and not 12pt?

[Vvmvbb]

Why not 4pt?

 

[Boogerman]

Why not 4pt?

Been there done that, went out of favor about 1940. Main problem tool alignment. 6 point fasteners made alignment angle smaller than 4. 12 point tool on 6 point fastener halved that. Now, tighter, higher tooth count ratchets make the 12 point advantage less, but 6 point much more compact than 4 point for fastener, so still in favor.

 

[82355]

All the REA poles around me still use 4 point hardware.

Martin

 

[joe_pinehill1]

My grandpa's era. Born 1891, died 1964. Plowed with a mule. Pulled a wagon with a team of horses. Used a pipe wrench on EVERYTHING cos that's all he had!

I owned a Ford 8N for a few years. I had the original owners manual. The manual said, when splitting the tractor, locate a tree with a limb strong enough to toss a rope around to secure both sides of the tractor.

 

[dnschmidt]

With respect to sockets anything bigger than 19mm I buy in 12 point as I see little to no advantage for six point. Once the nut or bolt gets that size slippage is much less of an issue as the 12 point provides plenty of contact area. With respect to bolts and nuts I do like 12 point as the engagement is better. I think external Torx sort of blunted the move to 12 point fasteners as it accomplishes the same thing only better.

 

[_brian_]

I love the 4 point for its simplicity, dont get me wrong. But I will say it ***** for griping strength. It seems to me it is an adjustable wrench fastener.