On Dec 26, 10:12*pm, "Steve W." > wrote:
> AD wrote:
> > On Dec 26, 2:42 pm, "Garrett" > wrote:
> >> "AD" *wrote in message
>
> ....
>
> >> What's the purpose of 12 points? (given that they are more likely to
> >> damage bolt heads I got to ask!)
>
> >> I nearly always see them on box end of open closed combination
> >> wrenches
> >> and 12pt sockets are not uncommon also.
>
> >> Why would anyone need a 12pt socket???
>
> >> Six points are useless on Boeing, Airbus, Douglas, Lockheed etc. *Lot's of
> >> 12 point bolts/nuts on
> >> commercial aircraft. *I haven't got a six point socket in my flight line
> >> tool bag.
>
> > meaning that you can't use open end of the combo wrench on those
> > fasteners, right?
>
> Correct. Just like you cannot use the two flat open end on Torx, Spline,
> or any of the special drives out there.
>
> If you started working on OLD items you would have a set of open end
> wrenches and sockets would be 8 points.
> Then came the hex head so now you added the "normal" combination
> wrenches with 12 point box and 12 and 6 point sockets.
> Then spline drive for industrial uses. Then came metric sizes, then the
> specialties like Torx and more.
>
what was the reason for the torx?