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I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the sockets that are on the market. What do you guys on the forum think about having and using both 6 and 12 point sockets in your toolbox? I understand that both 6 point and 12 point wrenches are both very useful and have their place. Depending on the tool box, a tech could fill up a fair bit of their box with just sockets. Especially if they have both 6 and 12 point sockets in both chrome and impact versions in every drive size, in both metric and SAE to be ready for every possible situation.
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Most of my 3/8 stuff is 12 point but all my 1/2 drive stuff is 6 sided purely for the brute force effect. Outside of my flare end wrenches all my wrenches are 12 point box end. I think the 12 point stuff is just more common, particularly in the 3/8″.
Whenever I hear “12 point” I always think triple square bit sockets. Sometimes I wish some manufactures would just use a normal bolt, but nooooooooooooooo. The collection of specialty triple square, poly drive and other tamper proof bits is always growing.
And people always wonder why car repair costs so much. Then They start to get it when I tell them to pick any drawer in my tool box and I tell them that there is almost a thousand dollars in each drawer.
I generally use 6-point stuff simply because a rounded off bolt can pretty much ruin my entire day (or worse). I used to keep all my 6 point stuff at the shop and leave my 12 point stuff at home, but I’ve been keeping more 12 point sockets around since manufacturers are using these bolts much more often:
It all depends on what your doing. I’ve been seeing more and more 12pt and other fastener types lately. I have 12pt metric in 3/8 drive shallow and deep and 1/2 drive shallow and deep. Also have 12pt metric 3/8 universal socket set.
[quote=”quickNpainless” post=101447]I generally use 6-point stuff simply because a rounded off bolt can pretty much ruin my entire day (or worse). I used to keep all my 6 point stuff at the shop and leave my 12 point stuff at home, but I’ve been keeping more 12 point sockets around since manufacturers are using these bolts much more often:
I guess the rest of the auto world has caught up to ze Germans using stupid bolts. Like these:
I had to buy an entire set of triple square bits and I only ever use 2 of them.
There’s something about 12-point bolts I just love. It is just so satisfying to fit a 12-pt socket perfectly on a 12-point bolt, like a clutch bolt or something. Probably why I love doing alignments. I love seeing that perfect alignment in the green. But anyway,
I rarely use my 12-point sockets. Use 6-point whenever you can. Man, one stripped bolt can just ruin your entire day. I could probably go months without using a 12-point socket, seriously.
I use 6-point wrenches as well for the same reason, like these Gearwrench and SK wrenches. I do have both 6 and 12pt wrenches.
Now spline/universal sockets – those are something else. I haven’t used spline sockets but I probably should try them out. If they work like they do on my spline wrenches, then they’ll probably grip better than even a 6-point socket. You would think that you couldn’t improve on a 6-pt, but there’s something magic about spline sockets I think, but I haven’t tried and tested spline sockets long enough to know. I have tried and tested these extra extra long, flex-head, double-box end ratcheting Mountain wrenches (also branded as E-Z Red, exact same wrench). I use these wrenches everyday and they’ve been fantastic. They’re splined/universal, and being long I put a lot of torque on them, and I’ve never so much as even slightly rounded off a bolt yet. I was skeptical at first about these spline/universal sockets and wrenches, thinking they’re just a gimmick, but man, they pass the test in my book.
Someone on another post mentioned I think Matco impact spline sockets. Interesting to make them impact. I guess Matco trusts them enough to make them impact and that they probably won’t round bolts. I’d would try those out definitely. Maybe spline can replace 6 and 12 pt, who knows.
12 point sockets are found a lot on big diesel trucks, and some head bolts. They are not an industry standard but are sometimes a necessity,
One actually needs both 6 and 12 point sockets for 1/4 , and 3/8 and 1/2 chrome sockets. No question there. Impact sockets pretty much 6 points are mostly whats need, although there are exceptions to that too., wrenches, I hate 6 point box ends pretty much. Those are usually not needed. One thing I will say, for a little 12 point socket, especially in a 1/4 drive don’t waste money on anything but Snap-on sockets, honestly.
[quote=”quickNpainless” post=101447]I generally use 6-point stuff simply because a rounded off bolt can pretty much ruin my entire day (or worse). I used to keep all my 6 point stuff at the shop and leave my 12 point stuff at home, but I’ve been keeping more 12 point sockets around since manufacturers are using these bolts much more often:
Neither a 6 or a 12 point socket will help when an E-Torx is required. You should be able to pick up a set to cover everything you’ll come across on the automotive side for $10 at the store that sells cheap tools.
Most cheap socket sets come with 12-point 1/2 drive sockets I have no clue why. I have both standard and metric 12-point 3/8 socket sets and that’s it, other than my 30mm 12-point for Toyota axle nuts. Unless I owned or always worked on something that used 12-point fasteners I will never spend a dime on anymore, as it is my sets came with a ratchet.
I keep my 12 points on the same rack as my 6, but I have them under my 6 so if I pick up a socket is it a 6. Most common time I use 12 point is Honda clutches. 10mm for the pp and 17mm for the flywheel. Which by the way is a 1/2″ socket. Only other time I used a 12 point was when my fine tooth ratchet busted and I needed to move a bolt in a tight spot.
Funny story about this. I had bought the Craftsman chrome giant socket set it was like 800 dollars at the time included every chrome socket they made for 6-8-12 point. Went into a shop not there a month. One of the older techs is asking everyone for a 12 point. I walked up and handed it to him as he wasn’t even asking the new techs. He says to me its scary that you even have these. then goes to the truck uses it on a 12 point bolt cleans it and gives it back to me.
I asked him why is it scary. He looked at me said it is Craftsman for one. For two you shouldn’t have 12 points you’ll round things. I looked at him I got 6 point too and I got Craftsman impact 6 points and that is what i use all the time not the chrome if I can help it. I am just sitting there thinking you needed it didn’t you for a 12 point bolt head but, I was new so just kept my mouth shut.
I hardly own any chrome sockets. I have pretty much all impact sockets. minus my 1/4 inch stuff. i’ve got 6 and 12 point in 3/8 and 1/2 drive. my 3/4 and 1 in drive stuff is all 6 point. minus a few special sockets for head bolts. I work on trucks though so clearance is USUALLY not a huge deal so i can work with just having impact sockets. But ya sockets occupy a shitload of space.
I work on big rigs every once in a blue moon you need the chrome sockets. That is why I bought them and keep them in my box because I an the only one with the weird sizes, 8 points, and the really small 1/4″ stuff. I have a full set 1/4 – 1/2, 2 3/4 and almost a full set of 1″ All impact.. That is what I use mainly the chrome is for backup, weird sizes, narrow spots, etc. Chromes are normally not worth it any more but, I got them in case I need them hecne why they are Craftsman and not Snap-On.
I hate 12pt sockets because they are inherently worse at holding the fastener and more likely to damage it than a 6 point. The ONLY time I approve of a 12pt socket is if the bolt has a 12pt head on it. The only reason to make a 12pt socket to go over a 6 sided hex is if you are using a breaker bar instead of a ratchet to turn it like you would with a solid box wrench (Where swing arc is restricted), which makes no sense to be doing. I have some 12pt socket rails because of running in 12pt bolts on clutches, head bolts, connecting rod bolts, etc, but they’re cheap. I would never buy a 12 point socket set for tool truck money.
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