Back in the 90's I worked in a union millwright fabrication shop so everything had to be made in U.S.A., most of the 40 guys in the shop had Craftsman tools. One day the oldest guy in the shop came walking over to me and asked me if I had a socket for this and he handed me a 12 point fastener, I grabbed a Craftsman 12pt out of my tool box and he thought I just handed him a moon rock. ;-) I'm a 12 point wrench and socket guy.

Thanks man for the different perspective. As a mechanic and maintenance guy at work I encounter many fasteners that someone else has rounded and messed up the six point head, requiring a quality (for lack of a better thought) tool in order for me to get that fastener off. Many times it isn’t a fastener but instead it’s a hydraulic component that I can’t just run down the road and buy a new one, meaning I really need to remove and re-install it in order to finish my job and get the machine operator back to work. I can see the need (from my perspective) to really have both kinds of wrenches in my tool box. Thanks for taking the time to lend an alternative perspective for us to think about.

I own multiple sets of 6 point combo wrenches and I use them quite often. I live in the rust belt and deal with mostly older cars. Sometimes, a 6 point wrench saves an awful lot of time. Yes, they're not my only set of wrenches, but they're certainly quite useful.

You mention a very specific and accurate point. All the videos proclaiming these RBRT only show them turning damaged fasteners out in the open. Great catch.

Heavy equipment mechanic in the Northeast, and with the rust up here a 12 point wrench or socket on a 6 point fastener is the fastest way to a rounded fastener. I have all sorts of 6 point wrenches, box, ratcheting, ratcheting flex head, line wrenches, and the Matco hex grip. I do have a set of Snap on flank drive plus but rarely use the box end to break fasteners free unless I have no other option. Since those RBRT wrenches came out they have been my go to in the service truck to break fasteners free and they have worked great for me, especially for holding a nut when its a nut and bolt situation. If I can I weld the new nut going back in so the next guy doesn't have to deal with that. I actually envy you for not having to deal with damaged or corroded fasteners, life much be so much easier. I really like you channel keep up the great work, wish you were up this way so I wouldn't have to work on my camper.

I agree with everything you said about six-point box end wrenches. There are certain situations where they’re great. For every day use, however, there are more downsides when compared to 12-point wrenches.

I have a set of Proto six point wrenches and love them in automotive at least. They work great for suspension work, drain plugs, and stuff. A cramped engine bay or under dash not so much. For the tight area I use the matco flex head ratchet wrenches srfm102pa.

Interesting and important perspective. Thanks for the opposite of a hot-take :) This is one of the reasons I sold my SK xFrame set, and why the GearWrench and other long-double-box-flex (i.e. Mountain competitors) that have a 6-point box are non-starters (not to mention I want a reverse switch and not have to flip them). Icon makes a great anti-slip design and has a 12-point box end.

I personally will not give up my RBRT they have their place. There are there for that O crap moment. Not as a daily driver. Like most mechanics, i have more wrenches than i honestly need. Every size, every length, every shape for both SAE and Metric. My go to everyday wrench is Snap On 12 pt combination standard length wrenches. They get 75% of the work. Fun fact, a while back i read a article stating that the average Technician owned 18 ratchets. I owned 18 ratchets in the 80s. At last count it was at 43 and i have picked up a few since then. Do not even ask about Snap On ratchets screwdrivers. Its not really my fault though, they offer way to many colors. Im semi retired now, meaning i only work on jobs i choose to do. Thanks for the video brother, i agree with everything except removing them. It only takes that one bolt or nut that requires that technology. Not much worse than knowing you have the proper tool but its at home. Have a great day and a Merry Christmas.

Rounded Bolt Removal Technology (R.B.R.T.™) designed to prevent the rounding of hex fasteners. Tolerances are a bit tighter as well.

I daily the rbrt wrenches love the case. Road tech for fork lifts sometimes yes it becomes a issue. But for me it's rare and I also have a small 3/8 ratchet set along side me for those times

Man just stumbled on this been checking out the rbrt set but I have had that very concern of the 6point it the automotive field for my personal experience if I’m grabbing a wrench it’s because nothing else will fit in that space and I need the 12 point to index in the best position possible. I think the open end would work well though. Thanks for the vid man appreciate an honest opinion.

Subbed,good information.👍🇺🇸💪

There is a place for 6 point box end wrenches and sockets. These are designed for heavier duty work; suspension, steering components, drain plugs and the like. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've seen damaged/rounded heads because someone consistently used a 12 point socket or wrench especially on oil pan drain plugs. Having said that, the flank drive plus, RBT, Wright grip wrenches have their place in removing rounded/damaged bolts that won't otherwise come loose. I own the Wright Grip wrenches for this purpose and they have served me well. The twelve point box end is convenient; little doubt about that. However, if a bolt/nut is in a critical position or large in size, I need to be sure it will come loose/tighten without damage, its time for the 6 point tool. I own complete sets of 6 and 12 point sockets and wrenches for this reason.

One of the main things about using a 12 pt wrench is that it allows you to use the wrench on the fasteners in various angles, where as a 6pt is only going to give you a select amount or a specific angle. It is perfectly fine to use a 12 pt wrench/socket on a 6pt fastener. The only caveat is using them on a rounded or rusty fastener, it may, and I say may with an absolute meaning of slight, cause the head to round, but it could round even with a 6pt.

Agreeing with your assessments. I find 6 point wrenches mostly helpful for breaking bolts loose, I have a few vintage Craftsman 6 point double box ends. I could see using the open end for final torque but you have the same issue of space and angle , unlike a 12 point box end. There would be situations where i would prefer the 6 point due to worn points on the fastener and/or from just soft metal fasteners.

Granted the RBRT has a more refined open end for better torque. (atleast to my knowledge, I have a USAG brand of the MAC RBRT but not precision torque, Im just going off the video you show.) But with most of your criticism revolving around the box end I'd have to agree with you on the fact of whats the point in using half of a tool at 100% (RBRT) when you can use all of a tool at 90% of the other (PT). Everyone has thier needs and this is a good informational video to inform buyers. Thanks for the video!

Much like you said, the only time I needed a 6 point wrench(non RBRT) was on damaged bolts. Everything else gets 12 points box end. For wrenches at least. Sockets are obviously a different matter

You are Correct. I Love my Precision Torque 12 pt and they are the best you will ever own!!! The 6 pt wrench is a Crazy gimmick

I used to have a set of USA made craftsman wrenches that were 6 point. They worked well. Also sk has a set of ratcheting 6 pt wrenches

Commenting on the video for the algorithm

I use Mac Reversible 6pt Ratcheting Wrenches as my daily driver's. I do have a set of Mac 12pt Flex head ratcheting wrenches but i find having a switch to change the direction is easier to work with than having to change the angle of the head to change direction but they each have their use.

I run rbrt a lot but I work on mostly semi trailers in the oil field

Snap on do make 6 point spanners, my snap on rep sold a set not too long ago. I thought of getting them for rounded or seized bolts as I mainly work on garden/ green machines so 9/10 fasteners are rusted, seized, rounded or just fucked up. I think for myself these RBRT spanners would be great as tight access isn't really an issue, most machines are pretty open and naked by design. I don't think these were ever a daily use spanner but still nice to have as a back up I think. thanks RV

There's a really good reason why the vast majority of combination wrenches have a 12-point box/ring end (US calls them box end, UK calls them ring end, I think they look more like a ring than a box!) - because they don't have a ratchet on them, so your angle of approach to the fastener is limited, and 12 points rather than 6 points gives you twice as many options. With the low torque you're applying to a hand tool, unless you're being naughty and putting cheater bars or extenders on it, 12-point shouldn't round out your fasteners.

MAC advertises all of there RBRT products as Daily drivers, on their website these wrenches are featured to be used on un damaged fasters ie daily driver im sure there are some "academically challenged" out there in KZfaq land (you know who you are) that will argue with that even when its stated on MAC TOOLS website but hey we still got a large group of people that still believe the earth is flat too so there is that.

It all depends on the field you're in. I've been in shops you only use 6 point and I've been in shops with only 12s it depends on use case.

You shouldn't use 12 points on seized 6 point fasteners, other than that it doesn't matter

I have a set of 6-point wrenches from gearwrench and don't use them much because it's harder to get them on the fastener and make adjustments. Mine don't have "RBRT" though which is another issue entirely - extracting a compromised fastener. I would think those "teeth" would mar the fastener and might make things a little worse, so these wrenches seem to be even more special purpose. The open-end might be more useful, but I'd probably not reach for the boxed ends often.

The Mac RBRT wrenches has one the tighter tolerances for wrenches.

A lot of DIYers have cheap stuff, and the cheap 12 point box ends round off anything. If we all bought Snap On, there may be a different attitude. I specifically bought the Tekton flex ratcheting wrenches in 6 point so I would have wrenches that could hold on to questionable fasteners. The flex and ratchet generally make it so space or angle is not a problem. But, I'm not using them everyday. It's a different world.

I've had more problems with 12 point destroying the head then not having access personally. And since I'm not rich I not going to have both. I get it for a wrench, but I find 12 point sockets just silly, I mean, you put it on a ratchet lol. I buy 6 point exclusively.

How about a 6pt box combination wrench for old rusty fasteners?

I only have six point combination wrenches.

I use 6 point snap on wrenches daily.. My sockets are 6 point so why should my wrenches not be?

What set would you recommend a daily driver

Tolerances are so good on wrenches now that 12pt will work on most things unless the fastner is over torqued.

I had a set of craftsman 6 point wrenches sae and metric and hardly ever use them. All my wrenches are 12 points. And If i ever need the use of 6 point I could always grab my impacts there all 6 point I have them in deeps and shallow.

Ok, so what are the little stubby things to the top left corner of the wrench tray? I like 6 points for when I have to really put some oomph into something. Over the years, I’ve had issues with 12 point chewing up fasteners if not outright stripping them. Now, once upon a time, with ratchets and such only having 36 teeth, you had fewer options, angle wise which made 12 point more advantageous, admittedly I’m jumping back and forth between ratcheting and not. Now, plenty of times, you just don’t have room to use a 6 point, so 12 point it is.

Where is it made?

I think it would make for a good junkyard set,

I love RBRT but my mind is blown people think its ok for daily use. You use this technology on damaged fasters. You especially dont use it on fasteners that are visible in cosmetic areas as it will leave imprints in the fastener. You use RBRT on fasteners you are discarding. Not fasteners you are reinstalling.

T 3 Way 8mm 12mm 14mm more Cheap and Funtion

send to me if you don’t want the 6 points wrenches 😂

KZfaq is getting bad about the “performance” side of tools vs the practicality of tool designs. Ill stick with my snap on and wright

Nope, you're right. 6-point box ends are very useless most of the time

Someone actually said that? Thats crazy... Goes to show how little ppl actually know.

I can't use these bc I work on planes 🤓

Pretty sure you made this video just to piss people off everybody knows what the rbrt is for bro the moment you said that they’re for damage fasteners I would’ve said you are correct the moment you said they don’t make good daily. Wrenches I would’ve said you are correct, that’s about it bro. You can use six point use 12 point when you need to use 12 point and if you have a damage fastener use Rbrt. Your 12 point isn’t getting a rounded fastener off. You wasted your time making this video.