why are ratcheting combination wrenches 12 point

[Rmay635703]

Do you have a long bridge you would like to sell me. That is a load of crap.

No chromies are allowed either
We have decades of injury data and go through thousands of sockets a year
Nothing cheap here and whatever we are doing we have fewer injuries than many others in the industry.
6pt rule was made long ago, we have a few 1000’/lb + applications that are “freestanding “ with fixturing.

What you do in a garage with slow tools is different than when you spin bolts constantly 20hrs a day
12pt tools (impact sockets and even wrenches ) tend to crack and split or become so worn that they start damaging the hardware fresh after installing.

 

[Trav]

We are talking automotive light truck applications on this forum not heavy industrial machinery, wrong forum.

 

[Dave9]

I still prefer 6 point but I'm not about speed and have both, but will always reach for 6 point first because I often have rusty automotive fasteners. Equally well designed and same level of precision, 6 point still makes a greater purchase on the fastener.

I'm sure there are other youtube videos but I just noticed this one today:



There is still another problem, rather than rounding off the head, I'm more likely to shear the rusty fastener in two. Penetrant or heat reduces the rate but it still happens.

 

[Accent Abuser]

Impact wobble/swivel sockets? I beat the snot out of my Snap-on Impact Wobbles & breakage is very rare. Though they do eventually wear out.

All my ratcheting wrenches are 12 point & never ran across a situation where 6 point would give a clear advantage

Come to the northeast and try them out on all the rusted crap we have to deal with, I'm not even exaggerating when I say some bolts/nuts will not even move unless you hit them with 800-1000 ft lbs of torque.

 

[Trav]

Where do you think I am at the moment? I see rotten stuff all the time and still use 12 pt wrenches without issue.
Broken bolts and rotten parts are the norm not the exception in the rust belt.

 

[Leo99]

12 is better than 6 in America. More is always better.

1/3 < 1/4

 

[HemiBenny]

Where do you think I am at the moment? I see rotten stuff all the time and still use 12 pt wrenches without issue.
Broken bolts and rotten parts are the norm not the exception in the rust belt.

I’ve replaced hub assemblies and various suspension and brake components on several cars that we’ve gotten from up north. Good god, I really feel for you guys that deal with that sh** day in and day out.