DeWalt 11.5 in. x 5 in. Large London Brick Trowel

Why this trowel earned a spot on my rack

I reach for a London-pattern trowel when I want control, clean edges, and the ability to move mortar efficiently without fighting the tool. After several weeks using DeWalt’s London brick trowel on brick repairs, stone repointing, and some small slab patching, I’m convinced it’s built for working masons and serious DIYers who want a rigid, predictable blade and a handle that stays planted in the hand. It’s not flashy, but it gets the essentials right.

Design and build

The blade and shank are forged from a single piece of carbon steel, which matters more than marketing implies. One-piece forging gives the neck and heel real stiffness; there’s no wobble between handle and blade and no riveted joints to loosen. The blade is hand-polished, which reduces drag when you’re cutting through a bed of mortar or striking off excess. It also makes cleanup easier; dried mortar releases with a quick scrape rather than a full-on chisel session.

Size-wise, the blade runs about 11.5 inches long and right around 5 inches at its widest point. On a London pattern, that width tapers quickly toward the heel, giving precise control when buttering bricks and reaching into tighter joints. The overall package is substantial without feeling oversized, and at just over a pound, it has enough mass to ride smoothly through mortar without wearing out your wrist.

The edges are cross-ground and consistent. They’re not razor sharp (nor should they be), but they’re precise enough to cut through stray ridges and to cleanly scrape a board or hawk. The grinding is uniform—I didn’t find high spots that dig or low spots that chatter.

Ergonomics and balance

The soft-grip handle is the standout here. It’s a rubberized overmold on a rigid core, and it strikes a good balance between tack and comfort. With wet or gritty hands, I never felt like I needed to choke up to keep control. The handle diameter lands in that “most hands” sweet spot—not too skinny, not clubby—and the neck angle places your wrist in a neutral position when you’re throwing or spreading a bed. After a long morning of repointing, my hand and forearm felt less cooked than they do with some wood-handled trowels that transmit more vibration.

The tool is slightly blade-forward in balance, which I prefer. That small bias helps the tip bite into a mortar pile and makes it easier to feather thin coats when you’re shaving down high spots.

On the wall: performance

What matters most with a trowel is how it loads, carries, and releases mortar. This one loads cleanly off a mortar board or hawk with minimal sloughing thanks to the stiff blade and polished surface. It carries a generous load without flexing like a leaf spring, and it releases predictably when you roll your wrist to butter a brick. I could set consistent beads and furrows without having to fight rebound from the blade.

In repointing work, the narrow heel of the London pattern shines. I could sneak the heel right into joints on older, uneven stone and push mortar deep without smearing faces. The cross-ground edges help when you need to shave off squeeze-out; they scrape cleanly without chatter or gouging.

On small concrete patches—a garage threshold ramp and a step riser repair—the blade’s stiffness made striking off and feathering straightforward. While a finishing trowel is the right tool to close the surface later, this brick trowel did a fine job knocking down ridges, pushing material, and rough-leveling.

Control and finish

The minimal flex is a big asset. With some lighter, thinner blades, you’ll feel a spring that translates into inconsistent beds or sloppy buttering. Here, the blade stays flat unless you make it bend. The result is cleaner, more consistent spreads and faster cleanup of the joints. When I needed a delicate touch—like feathering a thin smear to blend a repair—the tip transmitted pressure precisely without suddenly dumping material.

The polished blade also resists build-up. Mortar still sticks (it’s mortar), but it doesn’t cling. A tap on the board or a quick scrape with the edge knocks it off. That’s a time saver and reduces contamination when you’re switching between mixes or colors.

Versatility

• Brick and block: Excellent for brick; perfectly capable on small CMU jobs, though a Philadelphia pattern might be preferable for heavier block.
• Repointing: The tapered London profile and rigid blade make it easy to pack joints and clean faces.
• Small concrete/cement repairs: Works well for moving, shaving, and rough finishing patches before switching to a float or finishing trowel.
• Scraping and edge work: The ground edges do what they should—scrape boards, cut minor ridges, and square up corners without leaving chatter marks.

Durability and maintenance

Carbon steel is the right call for stiffness and feel, but it will rust if you leave it wet. The polish slows oxidation, not stops it. I rinse, wipe dry, and give the blade a light oil at the end of the day. After that routine, the blade still looks new with no pitting or staining. The one-piece forged shank inspires confidence—no play developed at the handle, and the tang hasn’t loosened.

The soft-grip handle has held up fine to lime and grit so far, with no peeling or mushiness. It doesn’t have the classic leather washers you see on some traditional trowels, but vibration is already well-controlled, and the polymer overmold seems tough enough to last.

DeWalt backs it with a one-year warranty, and a 90-day return window is typical in this category.

Shortcomings

• Width ambiguity: By design, London blades taper, so “5 inches” means the widest point. If you’re expecting a full 5-inch width down the length, you won’t get it. That’s not a flaw, just know what you’re buying.
• Weight for overhead work: At just over a pound, prolonged overhead or tight-space pointing can tire smaller hands quicker than an ultra-light trowel.
• Handle shape: If you have very small hands, the oval may feel a bit full. I liked it, but it’s worth gripping in person if possible.
• Carbon steel care: You need to dry and oil it occasionally. If you want set-and-forget rust resistance, stainless tools exist, though they usually flex more.

Who it’s for

• Masons and remodelers who prefer the control of a London pattern for brick and stone.
• DIYers tackling repointing, brick repairs, or small form-and-pour patches who want a rigid, predictable tool.
• Users who value a grippy, comfortable handle for long sessions or wet conditions.

If you mostly lay large block, a broader pattern might be more efficient. If you prize ultra-lightweight over rigidity, you may lean toward thinner blades with more flex.

Value

You’re paying a bit more than a bargain-bin trowel, and you can feel where the money goes: blade stiffness, a true one-piece shank, clean edge grinding, and a comfortable handle. Over time, a rigid, predictable blade saves rework and makes the workday easier. I’d rather buy this once than fight a flexy, poorly ground trowel and replace it later.

Recommendation

I recommend this DeWalt London brick trowel for anyone who wants a rigid, well-balanced tool that handles mortar cleanly and keeps your grip secure, even when wet. The one-piece forged carbon steel construction, polished blade, and soft-grip handle add up to reliable performance across brickwork, repointing, and small concrete tasks. It requires basic carbon-steel care and it’s not the lightest option for overhead work, but those trade-offs are minor next to the control and durability you get. If your priority is consistent beds, precise buttering, and a handle that won’t slip, this trowel is a smart buy.