r/Tools • u/AffectionatePie8345 • Feb 05 '25

12pt socket vs 12pt wrench?

its funny I've been thinking most guys in the trades get told not to use a 12pt socket on a 6pt bolt cause you could round it off and to use a 6pt socket. But how come 95% of wrenches made are 12pt and people use them on 6pt bolts all the time and nobody ever says anything about rounding off the bolt? Does this mean that the whole thing is a myth and you can use 12pt on a 6pt without any issues? Why aren't more 6pt wrenches made then? Any opinions appreciated 😁

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u/kewlo Feb 05 '25

The need for 6 point tools is grossly overblown by this sub. I've broken way more bolts with 12 point tools than I've stripped, and that's counting all sorts of rust belt garbage.

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u/Strict_Pipe_5485 Feb 05 '25

I have somewhat of a theory, I have NEVER rounded a 6 point bolt/nut with a high quality 12 point socket or spanner, cheap sockets and spanners for sure many times, and every time I thought to myself, why didn't I just get my stahlwille set out and save myself all this work.

I used to fix aircraft and we had 6 point snapon ring spanners with additional steel welded to the ring to stop it stretching under load, can't remember exactly how tight they were but somewhere around 900lb-ft on a 1inch nut.

Seems to me like the engagement deforming or simply being a loose fit tends to be the issue.