Sockets : 6 Tooth versus 12 Tooth ?

[ChrisD46]

I have both, there are times when the 6 tooth come in handy, like the other day trying to help my neighbor's aide change a flat tire. The lug nuts were welded on with rust/rot. It laughed at both my battery impact guns and getting into my driveway to hit it with the big gun was not an option. 4' + of breaker bar and two of us working it along with a heavy dose of Gibbs Oil got it to surrender. 12 tooth sockets imo would have been a disaster imo. Having said that for most jobs 12 tooth are my go for numerous reasons.

I agree - a nut is really stuck on , over torqued , etc. then 6 point sockets I believe get a firm hold and hopefully less chance to strip. 12 point sockets when space is tight and I need a specific limited range to free nuts with the most hand torque (oil drain plug with ratchet) . I just have to careful not to round off nut corners .

 

[RooflessVW]

I agree - unless a nut is really stuck on , over torqued , etc. I believe 12 point sockets create less wear on nuts . I find with previously using 6 point sockets I was getting rounded off corners on nuts .

Concur.

 

[ElectroMechanoMan]

Years ago, ratchets didn’t have fine teeth as they do now, so the 12pt sockets helped to line up the socket in a tight spot. Now that they make really fine tooth ratchets, that need is eliminated for the most part. My dad wouldn’t let me use a ratchet to break loose a bolt. He’d have me use a breaker bar or box wrench for that part of the job.

 

[Donald]

Always 6pt for me. Regular and impact sockets.