Why did my tool set come with six sided sockets, and more?

[rogersmithiii]

Can someone tell me why I need hex sockets (sockets with six sides for the bolt heads or nuts) when the multipoint ones seem to fit everything? My Craftsman mechanics tool kit came with multipoint, hex, and some other stranger ones (look like a star), and I've only used the multipoints.

I'm not talking about hex sockets that fit allen wrench holes, or torx sockets. I'm talking about normal sockets used on nuts and bolts.



Thanks

 

[ianguilly]

Are you talking about triple square sockets, like this?

 

[NHBandit]

6 point sockets (and wrenches for that matter) are less likely to round off the heads of bolts. Best reserved for really tight or really rusty stuff.

 

[rogersmithiii]

Not triple square. I meant the number of points.

 

[dsmnickk90]

Your set came with 12pt 6pt and 8pt. The 8pt are for square pipe plugs. 6pt are for 6 pr bolts. Sometimes its not possible when using a breaker bar. But 6pt are loss likley to round the bolt. 12pt are for 12pt bolts and help when you are using breaker bar in a tight spot

 

[dale500]

I think you are talking about what are commonly called six point sockets as opposed to the "regular" 12 point sockets. Six point sockets offer more contact area with the bolt or nut and are less likely to round off the corners of the fastener.

 

[Rico.]

12pt are for help when you are using a breaker bar in a tight spot

This seems to be a generally accepted myth.... But if you remove the 6 point
socket from a breaker bar and rotate it 90 degrees you can place the socket
back on the fastener at a 30 degree change in handle position, exactly the
same as if you used a 12 point socket... It's just a bit more fiddly.

There is literally only ONE single reason to own a 12 point socket and that is for
12 point fasteners.... Thats it. Having said that I do own a full set of 12 point
sockets from 8mm to 32mm and AF sizes because apart from the odd 12 point
fastener you can run into, it's very handy to have two identical sized sockets
on two ratchets for some nut and bolt applications, and.....

Having said all that, the quality of 12 point sockets these days means that
any fastener above 10 or 11mm will work just fine. I'm sure there are many
members that use only 12 point sockets and have never had a problem.

Cheers.

 

[dsmnickk90]

I have full sets of both. And taking a socket off and turnin it multiple times on a stubborn bolt dosnt make since to me so I just use 12pts when I run into that situation. I rarely use breaker bars as I have a long 1/2" ratchet and impact gun.
for wrenchs I think 12pt is a requirment

 

[kams1973]

12pt sockets only for 12pt fasteners and the widely accepted 12pt wrenches for 6 & 12 pt fasteners....

 

[rusty65]

No 12 point sockets will work perfect on hex bolts and in fact most 3/4 drive sockets are 12 point and not 6 point. Since the invention of flank drive 12 point has been able to hold it's ground with 6 point.

 

[tyheuser]

Most 3/4 drive sockets arn't going to matter because there huge you can get away with standard sockets on a metric bolt visa versa because theres so much to grab and wont need a better fit compared to smaller socket. 12 points ugly up bolts and will slip alot easier then a 6 point , I have full sets of both but the 12's get used rarely and only a 12 point bolts. If your needing to use a breaker bar the last thing you want to do is use a 12 point socket just flip the 6 point like the other guy said. A wrench is 1 thing the 6 points are just inconvient because of the amount of angles you can go at a bolt but a socket doesnt lift off the fasterner so why would you want to use them just get a nice fine tooth ratchet. Smaller 12 points will round a cheap or rusty bolt use them enough and youll find that out.

 

[dadsEH]

All the posters here assume the relationship of 6 to 12 point is biased towards the consumer, i.e its less likely to round off the bolt or nut corners. The major reason is that 6 point is easier to produce by the manufacturer and has less tooling maintenance. forging and broaching is reduced with less cutting faces in the tool to sharpen.

 

[davesnothere]

Did the OP really ask why he needs both 6 and 12 pt sockets?

Because they exist. That's why.
Get it together, man.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

I only have 2, 12pt. sockets in my toolbox. 12mm and 36mm. 'Normal' for me is 6pt.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

Did the OP really ask why he needs both 6 and 12 pt sockets?

Because they exist. That's why.
Get it together, man.

 

[RMRCattleCo.]

6 point broaching is great for bolts and nuts that are mangled or rusty. 6 points tend to last longer around my shop. Ive Rounded off way to many older 12points to count. 12 points are generally excepted as equals to 6 points now with the invention of flank drive, as posted above.

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

Fastener has six points? Use a six point tool
Twelve point? Use that tool

I own very few 12 pt tools
12 pt 12 MM for Ford Driveshaft bolts
12 pt 10 MM for NV4500 extension housings
12 pt 3/8" for TH-400 and 4L80E center support

That's what I can think of now from right here

Adam

 

[03protege]

I think a lot of the 12 pt causing rounding stories has to do with many cheap tools (that are out of tolerance to begin with) are usually found in 12 pt.

I also think it is easier to seat the socket crooked with a 12 pt and again that will round a fastener.

Still with the being said I still dislike 12 pointers unless that is what I need to do the job.

 

[silentpoet]

12 points serve two purposes. To increase your vocabulary of swear words and they also serve to round nuts and bolt heads off.

 

[skulldrinker]

I don't think I have ever ran into a 12 point bolt head before and if I did it was one time and I don't remember. Just to widen the scope a bit no one has mentioned 12 pt impact sockets.

 

[smalltruck]

I don't think I have ever ran into a 12 point bolt head before and if I did it was one time and I don't remember. Just to widen the scope a bit no one has mentioned 12 pt impact sockets.

I have several 12pt impact sockets. OK thats a lie I have a 3/8 impact swivel set in 12 point an and 1/2 shallow set in 12pt impact. Why do I have them? Because some dimwitted engineer spec'd a 12 point for reasons that I can't follow, not a space constraint for instance, and like magic there it is.

 

[87FoRunner]

I don't think I have ever ran into a 12 point bolt head before and if I did it was one time and I don't remember. Just to widen the scope a bit no one has mentioned 12 pt impact sockets.

Dana 30 unit bearings.

 

[redwrench60]

12pt sockets only for 12pt fasteners and the widely accepted 12pt wrenches for 6 & 12 pt fasteners....

I'll answer this. Generally a combination wrench is just 8"-12" long and it's limited leverage lowers the chance of damage. A socket gets used on an impact or a long ratchet/breaker bar and possibly even a cheater pipe so the potential for damage rises.