DeWalt 10 in. x 4 5/8 in. Large London Brick Trowel

First impressions and setup

I put the DeWalt London brick trowel to work on a small garden wall, a fire pit touch‑up, and a couple of concrete paver molds to see where it shines and where it falls short. Out of the box, the blade and shank present as a single, continuous piece of carbon steel with a clean grind and a satin finish that sheds moisture easily. The handle is a soft‑grip with a finger stop and a “no‑turn” lock that actually works; I didn’t experience any rotation or loosening, even when twisting the trowel to flick off excess mortar. There’s a fitted plastic clip on the handle from packaging—most people will toss it, but I kept it as a hanger and it’s surprisingly handy.

This is the 10-inch version, which feels large in hand without being unwieldy. If you prefer loading massive amounts of mortar in one scoop or you’re working wide units, DeWalt also offers a longer option, but the 10-inch size is a practical sweet spot for general masonry and most DIY jobs.

Build quality and ergonomics

The blade is on the stiff side for a London pattern, which many bricklayers prefer for consistent spreads. There’s just enough spring near the toe to help “float” mortar, but not so much that it chatters when you’re buttering a vertical. The grind along the edges is even and arrives sharp enough to cleanly cut through a ribbon of mortar and scrape a board without digging in. After a day of use, the edge developed a subtle polish but didn’t roll or chip.

At the shank-to-blade transition, I looked closely for telltale weld lines or discoloration and didn’t see anything that suggested a weld. What I did see were typical post-forge grind marks that you’d expect on a one-piece tool. The ring when tapped is continuous and the stiffness is uniform from heel to mid-blade, which also points to a monolithic build. That said, the cosmetic finishing isn’t jewelry-grade—there are some light grind swirls—but nothing that affects function.

The handle’s diameter strikes a nice balance. With gloves, it feels substantial and secure; bare-handed, the rubberized compound stays grippy when wet without feeling tacky. The finger guard is subtle but keeps your index finger from sliding down onto the shoulder when you’re pushing a heavy bed. After several hours, I didn’t notice any hotspots or pressure points, which is often where budget trowels fall apart. Weight-wise, it’s not overly nose-heavy, which makes repeated scooping less tiring.

London pattern performance

The London profile narrows toward the toe and carries a slightly curved edge. In practice, that helps in a few ways:

• Scooping and loading: The taper lets you dive into mortar without dragging a ton of material off the board. I could get a clean scoop and carry it without wobble.
• Buttering brick: The toe gives good control for tight, even layers on the head joints, and the low flex helps prevent the mortar from “squishing” when you tap the unit into place.
• Cleaning and shaping: The ground edges do a nice job shaving excess mortar from joints and corners. For striking or cleaning corners on block, the toe is precise.

If you’re used to a Philadelphia pattern for bigger spread, you’ll notice the London carries a bit less in one go, but it makes up for it in control and dexterity around tight spots.

Cutting and durability

A trowel is not a brick hammer, but most masons will occasionally score and snap a brick or trim a corner with the toe. I used the DeWalt trowel to score solid clay brick and split a few soft buds. Light knapping with the edge didn’t chip the blade. The stiffness helps here—so long as you aren’t striking like it’s a bolster, the blade holds up. If your workflow involves frequent aggressive cutting, you’ll still want a brick set or bolster; that’s true for any trowel with a relatively thin, ground edge.

After rinsing and a quick wipe, the blade resisted flash rust. I intentionally left it damp overnight once; no rust spots the next morning. Over several uses with mortar and concrete, I only saw normal fine scratching. The finish seems to do its job.

On the board and at the wall

Where this trowel really earned its keep was consistency. The low-flex blade laid beds that were repeatable—from the heel spread for larger beds to applying head joints with the toe, it felt easy to hit the same thickness across courses. I could quickly feather a bed without leaving ridges, and the blade didn’t “oil-can” or bounce, which keeps your mortar from lifting back up when you pull away. For cleanup, the tapered profile made it easy to get into corners of a fire pit ring and clean stray squeeze-out without gouging.

I also used it to level concrete in a stepping-stone mold as a quick test outside of masonry work. The plate-like stiffness and long toe actually worked nicely to screed inside a curved mold; the blade’s curvature helped hug the edge while pulling material. It’s not a finishing trowel, but in a pinch, it’s a versatile shape.

Comfort over longer sessions

Handle comfort matters more than most people admit. This one earns high marks. The soft-grip compound dampens vibration when tapping blocks and reduces finger fatigue when you’re rolling the trowel to flick excess mortar. The no-turn feature wasn’t just marketing—the handle stayed aligned to the blade. Balance is good: the center of gravity sits just forward of the grip, so the trowel “wants” to sit flat on the board rather than tipping off the edge. If you have very small hands, the grip might feel a touch large, but most users will find it secure.

Fit, finish, and quality control

My sample arrived flat and true, with no heel lift and no twist. The blade’s grind lines were even, the edges symmetrical, and the handle was aligned square to the blade. The shank-to-blade transition was smooth. As with any forged tool at this price point, expect utilitarian finishing rather than polished presentation—some grinder swirls and a light satin coating. From a performance standpoint, there’s nothing to complain about.

Value and alternatives

At about $38.69, this sits in an accessible tier beneath the premium names that run notably higher. For the money, you get a stiff, well-balanced London-pattern trowel with an ergonomic handle and a corrosion-resistant finish. There’s a 90-day return window and a one-year warranty, which adds peace of mind if you’re unsure about the feel. If you’re a pro who has a strong preference for a very springy blade or a certain handle shape, you may still gravitate to a brand you’ve used for years. But if you like a bit more stiffness and want predictable spreads without babysitting the trowel, this one holds its own.

Who it’s for

• DIYers building walls, edging, or a fire pit who want a reliable, comfortable trowel that won’t fight them as they learn proper spreads and buttering technique.
• Tradespeople who prefer a low-flex London pattern and need a durable daily driver or a solid backup that won’t break the bank.
• Anyone who appreciates a soft, non-rotating handle and a blade that cleans up quickly without fuss.

If you’re habitually using your trowel to do heavy cutting and prying, or if you prefer the larger footprint and load capacity of a Philadelphia pattern, you’ll want to choose accordingly.

The bottom line

The DeWalt trowel brings a stiff, predictable blade and genuinely comfortable ergonomics to a very usable 10-inch London pattern. It spreads consistently, handles cleanup and shaping with confidence, and shrugs off typical jobsite abuse. The finishing isn’t flashy, but the fundamentals—blade geometry, balance, handle security—are right where they should be.

Recommendation: I recommend this trowel for most users, especially DIYers and pros who favor a low-flex London pattern. It’s a strong value for the price, with dependable performance, easy maintenance, and thoughtful ergonomics. If you’re looking for maximum spring or you rely on a trowel for frequent aggressive cutting, you may prefer a different tool style. For everything else—laying beds, buttering joints, and keeping work neat—this trowel is a capable, comfortable choice.