Sockets- a few questions

[KRStone]

Good evening,



I have a few hodge-podge socket sets around the house. A little 1/4" drive set from snap-on that a late uncle left my dad and it made it to me. The usual plethora of 3/8" stuff that everyone builds up over the years from the initial cheap purchases made when young to the higher quality stuff. The set of Powr-Kraft 1/2" drive sockets, rachets and extensions I rescued from certain doom (in-laws were going to donate them along with clothes and dishes to salvation army when they cleaned out my wife's grandpa's garage... are they nuts???). These sets contain a variety of 12 point and 6 point sockets.



A job is waiting on my truck's pitman arm and I was searching for the right size socket (anyone else ever done that?).



So, the question came to me, why are there 6 pt and 12 pt sockets... . and which should I have. Is one better than the other? Any reasoning behind it? If I have to purchase additional sockets, I'd like to know so that I invest wisely.



So, I told you that so that I can tell you this...



I need two particular sockets. A 1-1/4" deep and a 1-5/16" regular. I have 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive rachets and extensions.



I drop into Sears tonight and nada, zip, zilch, zippo..... they don't have either socket that I need. Awesome They only carry these two sizes in standard depth and only in 3/4" drive... which I don't currently have any of. Also, they're $18-ish each. I need one in deep and preferably both in 1/2" drive.



So, what to do?



I'm installing a DSS (Darin's Steering Stablizer) on my '96 Dodge 2500 HD and I need to remove the nut on the steering arm, and the replacement part requires a deep socket.



I'm surprised that Sears didn't have them, so now I'm a little stumped as to why and what to do, and the question of 6pt vs 12pt is in my head.



Please let me know your thoughts,

KRS

 

[fkovalski]

Bottom line as a shade tree mechanic... you use whatever gets the job done. But, in general, 6 pt will have a less tendency to round off fasteners over a 12 pt.

Back in the day when I bought my Snap On set, they had a patent on their rounded off corners on the box and sockets (I forget the trade name they had at the time... ) but the concept was that by having rounded corners in their tools that it would hit and grip the face of the fastener better thus providing more force to do the intended work.

With respect to your needed "1-1/4" deep and a 1-5/16" regular" I would not recommend these in a 12 pt. The size dictates that a greater amount of torque is needed and the more points may tend to round off all but the most perfect nuts/ bolts. They are available in 1/2 drive. I do not have any 3/4 except for one which I step down.

The only real reason (in my opinion) to have any 12 pt is for the reason that the ratchet or breaker bar cannot make or hit the throw that is needed to turn a fastener in a tight spot. I try to use only 6 pt even though I have old inherited sizes as you describe.

I generally use my impact sockets even with hand tools because they are stronger... they are my first "go- to" tool but the trade off is that they are generally thicker walled sockets and they do not always fit into tight areas.

As far as buying tools: look at the job you need to do. Will the over all price of buying the tool still save you money over paying a professional to to the job? Think of tools of a pseudo investment. Will you use it in the future? Think about longevity... What I mean by that is this: will you ever pass them on to a child? I inherited my sense of intuitiveness and mechanical aptitude from my father who inherited it from my grandfather. I have tools from both of them and the meaning behind their "jack- of- all- trades" attitude have a lot of sentimental meaning to me. When my sibling and me had to clear out my father's garage before he passed I made sure that none of his tools went to the Good Will... I wanted them! ... but I digress.

My opinion is to buy what you need to get the job done right.

 

[AEdelheit]

As far as 6pt vs. 12pt goes there are some bolts that require a 12pt socket so they are handy to have for those times, however if you use them on a regular hex head bolt they will strip the bolt head fairly easy if any torque is required since there is far less contact surface, so id keep a set of 12pt for those times you need them but primarily use 6pt if possible. As for the larger sized sockets id probably just go buy a cheap 3/4 set from Harbor Freight, they are handy to have and you can get much more leverage with 3/4 inch ratchets and there bigger socket are fairly strong, especially if you dont use a good 3/4" gun on them, they also double as seal drivers if your in a bind

 

[MartyK]

What I've done when it comes to the not so common sizes is order it through craftsman.com, have it delivered to the store (no shipping charges) and it's usually there in a day or two.

 

[KRStone]

Good points. I may just order from Craftsman, but I'll keep my eyes peeled for estate sales, etc. Good old tools are hard to find but they're out there.

 

[RustyJC]

At the risk of incurring the wrath of the anti-big-boxers, when I've needed a larger (within reason) wrench or socket in a hurry, I've had pretty good luck in the Kobalt tool section at Lowe's.



Rusty

 

[SHobbs]

What Rusty said, heck I have even used sockets from Oreilly's. One thing I did do this year was pick up a couple of air ratchets and I can't figure out how I did it without them all these years.

 

[hcole]

Maybe I am a true jackleg but I have all different size sockets, rachets, deep well, 6 point, 12 point, and at least 5 different brands. What I have found on the 3/8", 1/2" and 3/4" if you have the adapters that fit on the sockets and rachets that go both ways (up and down) you can work around most any situation. I especially use the 1/2" up to the 3/4" socket one. That way I can just purchase the 3/4" drive socket I need rather than have to buy the whole set with the rachet. I don't have to look for and buy a special 1/1/4" socket with 1/2" drive. Works for me.

 

[MChildress]

I prefer 6 point as for the reasons mentioned. I needed to replace a pinion seal some 25 years ago and needed 1 1/4" socket. Went to the auto parts house and they had what I needed for $25 for a 3/4 drive socket plus I was going to need the 1/2 to 3/4 adapter. I had seen a guy selling tools out of his truck on the side of road while driving to the parts house. I stopped and talked to him and he had a whole 3/4 drive set including a 3/4 ratchet,breaker bar,and extensions for $20. I figured I just needed it for the one job and thought what the heck and bought it. I later purchased a 1/2 to 3/4 reducer and have used the heck out of them over the years even with my 1/2 impact with no problems. I do use impact sockets on all my 1/2 stuff. I would love to have a Snap On set but for the occasional need for the big stuff I run into this cheep set has worked great.

 

[KRStone]

Caught NAPA during a tool sale, bought the regular 1-5/16 for $8 and had to order in the long 1-1/4 for $9 (I think); these are the black oxide coated 1/2" drive 6 point air tool sockets... . thought it was a screaming deal.



KRS

 

[Wingate]

12 pt. sockets are used for several reasons... Typically, a 3/8" bolt will use a 9/16" wrench when the bolt has a 6-point head... . in close quarters, a 6 pt. head bolt would not work, but use a 3/8" bolt with a 12 pt. 3/8 head which will allow more room for access.

Contrary to popular belief, the 12 pt. head bolt does not round as easy as you might think. The 12 pt. socket has a little more contact area than the typical 6 point socket.

That being said, a cheaply made 12 pt. socket can/will get you into trouble quick!!!. When working with 12 pt. bolts, I prefer to use 12 pt. impact sockets due to impact sockets being slightly softer than a comparable chrome socket. Also, don't use chrome sockets on impact wrenches, they wear out the snap ring and anvil quicker.



An 1 1/4 deep and 1 5/16 regular can both be purchased in 1/2" drive from a variety of places, depending on how much you want to spend. You local Mac dealer or Napa auto parts can sell both of these to you, down to Harbor Freight Tools or Northern Tools... .

 

[fkovalski]

... . these are the black oxide coated 1/2" drive 6 point air tool sockets... .

Not all "black" sockets are created equal. Some are just "industrial finish"... they may be OK for air tools such as air ratchets air drivers but may not be suitable for "impact" tools.

 

[fkovalski]

... . I prefer to use 12 pt. impact sockets ...

Interesting! I do not ever recall seeing 12 pt impact sockets... (but I have been out of the professional mechanic scene) ... prolly Mac or S. O. has them?

 

[rbattelle]

I've always found it ironic that once you get up above, oh 1-1/4, hand-sockets and box end wrenches are available only in 12-point. Gotta go impact if you want 6-point.

I asked about it here once.

-Ryan

 

[RustyJC]

I've always found it ironic that once you get up above, oh 1-1/4, hand-sockets and box end wrenches are available only in 12-point.

Interesting that you mention 1-1/4" as a break point. When we hire a mechanic to work in field service on the large industrial engines and compressors we build, everything up to 1-1/4" is considered part of the mechanic's hand tools. The company supplies everything over 1-1/4" off the tool trailer or crew truck along with all special tools.



The 1-1/4" break point is fairly common in the oil and gas industry. I wonder if that's one reason the larger stuff is a little harder to find at the normal retail outlets.



Rusty

 

[rbattelle]

everything up to 1-1/4" is considered part of the mechanic's hand tools.

I swear, Rusty, the older I get the more I need larger size wrenches and sockets.

Apparently my nuts are getting bigger every year.

-Ryan

 

[RustyJC]

:-laf



Rusty

 

[KRStone]

There goes this thread..... :-laf

 

[BullyDogJason]

I want to get a set of the new craftsmans that work on any nut or bolt

 

[fest3er]

I want to get a set of the new craftsmans that work on any nut or bolt

As with fools, they'll invent burrs and bolts that those craftsmans don't work on.