Wera Joker 6000 Series 11-Piece Ratcheting Combination Spanner Set

In-Depth Look

The Wera Joker set adds two features to the combination spanner: a holding function in the open jaw and a limit stop. Both address common problems with a plain open-ended spanner, which are fasteners dropping out and the jaw slipping off the head.

The Holding Function

A metal plate in the open jaw holds the nut or bolt head in the spanner when you release pressure. This allows one-handed turning and helps when working inside boiler cupboards, above ceilings or behind panels, where a dropped nut is hard to retrieve.

Limit Stop

Traditional open-ended spanners can slide down the fastener head under load. The limit stop in the Joker’s open end stops the spanner slipping down the bolt head, which allows more torque to be applied through the open end.

30-Degree Return Angle

The ratchet ring has a 30-degree return angle, so it can keep turning a fastener where there is only a small arc of space to swing the spanner.

Sizes and Coverage

The 11-piece set covers 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19mm. There is no 9mm in the set. Check the sizes you use most often against this list before buying. The tool roll keeps the spanners together in a tool bag or box.

Summary

The Wera Joker 6000 set gives 11 chrome-molybdenum ratcheting combination spanners from 8mm to 19mm, with a holding function, a limit stop and a 30-degree return angle.

How It Compares

This Wera Joker set has 11 ratcheting combination spanners in sizes 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19mm. There is no 9mm in the set. Each spanner has an open end at one side and a ratchet ring at the other, and the spanners use chrome molybdenum steel. The set is supplied in a tool roll.

Two features set these spanners apart from a plain combination spanner. A metal plate in the open jaw provides the holding function, so the nut or bolt head stays in the spanner for one-handed turning. A limit stop in the open end stops the spanner slipping down the bolt head and allows more torque. The return angle is 30 degrees.

For another hand tool used in plumbing, see the Knipex Cobra 250mm water pump pliers.

A plain spanner is still the better choice when a ratchet will not fit, or when you only need a single size for a single job. Check the size marked on the spanner against the fastener before you start, and use the spanner only for turning fasteners. Do not use it as a hammer, and do not add a bar to the handle. Follow the maker’s guidance.

Common Questions

What does the holding function do? It keeps the nut or bolt head in the open jaw so that it does not fall when you let go. A metal plate in the jaw provides the grip, which lets you turn with one hand.

What is the limit stop for? The limit stop sits in the open end and stops the spanner slipping down the bolt head. That allows firmer turning, because the spanner stays seated on the head.

What does a 30 degree return angle mean? It is how far you swing the handle before the ratchet grips again. A smaller swing helps in tight spaces where there is little room to move the handle.

When should I use the ring end and when the open end? Use the open end to get onto the fastener in the first place. Use the ring end for the final tight turns, as is general practice with combination spanners.

What sizes are in the set? Eleven sizes: 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19mm. Check the pack before you buy if you need 9mm, because it is not in this set.

Can I use these instead of a socket set? It depends on the job. A socket set uses a separate handle and a socket, so check the space around the fastener and choose the tool that fits it. Use the spanner only for turning fasteners, and follow the maker’s guidance.