[Ian21401]

I think that most of us have started jobs that didn’t go according to plan.
After many years of occasional struggles I invested in a set of “flat drive” sockets which engage on the flats of the offending bolt/nut instead of the 16 point sockets which engage on the points of the bolt/nut. I now try to use the “flat drive” socket whenever loosening anything remotely tight.
I have also invested in a set of “twist drive” sockets after having them demonstrated to me by a neighbour who is a garage owner. The required size socket is hammered onto the offending bolt/nut and the interior spiral bites into the bolt/nut.