Wera Makes Great Tools. This One Has Problems.
We are big fans of Wera. Their screwdriver sets, Zyklop ratchets, and bit kits are excellent — well-made, thoughtfully designed, and they last. So when we got the Wera 6004 Joker self-setting — a ratcheting wrench with a spring-loaded, self-adjusting jaw that automatically grips the fastener — we were excited to try it.
On paper, it solves a real problem. You reach for an adjustable wrench when you do not have the right size box wrench, or when you are in a tight spot and need something that ratchets. The self-setting Joker promises both: the jaw automatically adjusts to the fastener size, locks on, and ratchets without backing off. No more dialing in a thumb wheel or repositioning.
In practice, it does not deliver where it counts.
Where It Falls Short
The situations where you actually need a ratcheting adjustable wrench are almost always the hard ones — tight spaces, awkward angles, fasteners you cannot see. That is the whole reason you are not using a standard box wrench. And in those exact situations, the self-setting Joker starts playing jokes.
It slips off. The self-setting jaw does not grip as securely as a traditional wrench on the nut. When you are working at an odd angle or applying real torque, it lets go. Not every time, but enough times that you lose trust in it.
The ratcheting arc is too wide. In a tight space — which is exactly where you want a ratcheting wrench — the swing needed to re-engage the next tooth is often more room than you have. You end up unable to complete the ratcheting motion, which defeats the entire purpose of the tool.
It is harder than just finding the right wrench. After wrestling with the self-setting Joker in a few difficult spots, we found ourselves putting it down and digging through the toolbox for a standard combination wrench or a crow's foot. Faster, more reliable, less frustration.
Where It Works Fine
On simple, easy-access fasteners — the ones where you have plenty of room to swing — the self-setting Joker is a nice tool. The build quality is classic Wera: solid feel, good finish, comfortable in the hand. The holding function that keeps it on the nut when you pull away is genuinely clever, and the self-setting jaw is satisfying when it snaps onto a fastener cleanly.
If your typical use is light assembly, furniture, or accessible automotive work where space is not an issue, you will probably like it. It is a well-made, unique product.
The Bottom Line
The Wera 6004 Joker self-setting is a great idea that does not survive contact with the situations where you actually need it. In easy spots, it is a nice wrench. In hard spots — the ones that made you reach for it in the first place — it slips, cannot complete its ratcheting arc, and costs you more time than a traditional wrench.
It has been relegated to novelty status in our toolbox. We wanted to love it. We just cannot recommend it over a good set of combination wrenches and a proper ratcheting wrench for tight spaces.
