DeWalt Flex Head Combination Ratcheting 12pt Metric Wrenches

First impressions and real-world use

My first outing with these DeWalt flex‑head ratcheting metric wrenches was a serpentine belt job on a cramped SUV. The fasteners I needed were boxed in by brackets and hoses, and a socket just wouldn’t land square. A couple of minutes with the flex‑head 14 mm and the 72‑tooth box end made the difference: I could set the head angle, snake past an obstruction, and work the bolt with short, controlled strokes. That pretty well sums up what these wrenches are built to do—trade a bit of heft for access, speed, and control in tight spaces.

Build, finish, and ergonomics

The finish is full‑polish chrome, and it’s done cleanly. Edges are de‑burred, the box ends are true, and the open ends are crisp without being sharp. Chrome this smooth wipes clean quickly when it’s covered in coolant or oil. DeWalt stamps the size deeply on both sides and adds shallow hashmarks on the handle. I tossed them in a drawer and could still read sizes at a glance, and the hashmarks do give a little more traction with gloves on.

In hand, they feel substantial—on the heavier side for this style. The weight isn’t a negative in use; it translates to a planted, confident pull, but you’ll notice it if you’re used to ultra‑thin pattern wrenches. Balance is neutral; even with the pivot head, they don’t feel head‑heavy.

The ratcheting mechanism

The ratcheting box end uses a 72‑tooth gear, so you get an effective 5° swing per click. In practice, that’s fine enough for most engine bay and under‑dash work. The pawl engagement is positive with minimal backlash, and the sound/feel is consistent across sizes. There are finer mechanisms out there (84–120 tooth), but 72 teeth is a solid sweet spot for durability and access.

This is a 12‑point box, which makes indexing easier in confined spaces. You can re‑seat the wrench sooner than you would with a 6‑point, and that adds up when you’re moving a bolt a few degrees at a time. DeWalt’s DirectTorque geometry shifts load to the flats rather than the corners, and in use I could lean on a slightly chewed 13 mm without further rounding it. Still, physics is physics: I reach for the open end or a 6‑point socket to break free very tight or corroded hardware, then switch to the ratcheting box end to run it out quickly.

Flex‑head behavior and access

The headline feature is the pivoting box end. It’s a friction‑style flex head that stays where you set it well enough for general use, and you can tweak your angle on the fly. In awkward positions—like an alternator bracket top bolt or the back‑side nut on a caliper bracket—the ability to approach the fastener at a comfortable angle and still ratchet is a genuine time saver.

A couple of practical notes:

• Under heavy load, any friction‑style head can creep. If I’m really leaning on it, I keep the head closer to straight or brace the head against something to keep the angle fixed.
• The head thickness grows with size, as you’d expect. The small sizes are slim (the thin side is about 3/16 inch in the 9–12 mm range), while the 18–19 mm ends are closer to 5/16–7/16 inch. In recessed pockets, the smaller wrenches slide right in; the larger ones might not.

The open end has a 15° offset, which is more useful than it sounds. In tight quarters you can flip the wrench to re‑index and get another bite, or keep your knuckles off a surface. Between the 12‑point box indexing and that 15° offset, you always seem to have one more way to get purchase on a stubborn fastener.

Fit on fasteners

Across the sizes I used most (10–19 mm), fit on new hardware was snug with minimal play. On older bolts with rounded corners, the DirectTorque profile helped the box end bite the flats cleanly. The open ends are well machined and didn’t splay or cam off on reasonable loads. For high‑torque work—suspension bolts, for example—I’ll still grab a 6‑point socket or a fixed box wrench for breakaway. That’s just good practice with any ratcheting combination.

Identification, organization, and small touches

Size markings are clear on both sides, and they haven’t faded. The hashmark grip is subtle but legitimately helpful when your gloves are oily. The flex head pivots smoothly without any gritty spots. Out of the package, the retainer that holds the wrenches is snug to the point of stubborn; it kept them in place during transport, but it wasn’t the friendliest unboxing experience. Once they’re in a drawer or roll, that’s academic.

Coverage and what’s missing

The set I used covers 9 mm through 19 mm. That range handled 95% of my automotive and machine‑shop tasks. The notable gap is 8 mm; if you work on hose clamps, small brackets, or motorcycles, you’ll want to add an 8 mm flex‑head ratcheting wrench from another line to fill that hole. The included wrenches are reasonably long for leverage—lengths climb from just over 5 inches at 9–10 mm to roughly 8.5 inches at 19 mm—so you’re not starved for reach.

If you care about exact clearances, the outside head widths also grow with size (rough figures: about 3/4–1 inch on the small sizes and up to the 1‑1/2 inch range on the 18–19 mm). In most engine bays that’s fine, but recessed fasteners in narrow pockets may steer you to a thinner pattern.

Durability and warranty

After several weeks of regular use—brake jobs, an intake swap, and a handful of HVAC fasteners—the ratchet mechanisms are still crisp, and there’s no new slop at the box end. The chrome shows no spotting, and the flex head hasn’t loosened up. I also appreciate the full lifetime warranty. I haven’t needed it, but it matters with a tool that has moving parts.

Where these shine—and where they don’t

Where they shine:
- Tight spaces where a socket won’t fit and a fixed‑head wrench demands too much handle swing.
- Mid‑torque tasks where you can break free a fastener with the open end or a socket, then finish quickly with the ratcheting box.
- Jobs that benefit from rapid indexing: under‑dash brackets, accessory mounts, heat shields, motorcycle bodywork, and interior hardware.

Where they’re less ideal:
- Breaking loose high‑torque or heavily corroded fasteners—use a 6‑point socket or a fixed box wrench first.
- Recessed fasteners with very tight side clearance in the larger sizes.
- Situations where a locking flex head would provide extra security at a set angle. The friction head is good, but it’s not lockable.

Bottom line

These DeWalt flex‑head ratcheting wrenches are thoughtfully executed and easy to live with. The 72‑tooth mechanism strikes a good balance between fine engagement and durability, the flex head meaningfully improves access, and the small usability touches—clear size stamps, hashmark grip, polished chrome—make them pleasant daily drivers. They’re a bit heavier than some competitors, and the set really wants an 8 mm to feel complete. The friction‑style head won’t replace a locking design for every scenario, but it holds its angle well enough for most real‑world work.

Recommendation: I recommend this set for anyone doing automotive or general mechanical work who needs faster access in tight spaces than a socket can provide. The combination of a fine, 12‑point ratcheting box end, a useful 15° open‑end offset, and a flexible head that actually helps you clear obstacles makes these a practical upgrade over standard combination wrenches. Add an 8 mm to round out the coverage, keep a 6‑point socket handy for breakaway, and these will earn their spot in your main drawer. The lifetime warranty and solid build quality seal the deal.