DeWalt 16 in. x 3.25 in. Extruded Magnesium Hand Float

Why I reached for this float

I’ve got a handful of magnesium floats in my concrete kit, and lately the one I keep grabbing is the DeWalt mag float. It’s a straightforward, well-balanced 16 x 3.25-inch tool with an extruded magnesium blade, beveled ends, and a soft-grip handle. Nothing flashy—just the right combination of shape, weight, and finish that makes the early finishing stages more predictable.

On a recent series of small pours—a trash can pad, a set of step landings, and a 10-by-10 patio—the float proved itself in the roles that matter: bringing up the cream quickly, staying controllable when the mix is finicky, and not leaving surprise lines or divots when I change direction or work near forms.

Build quality and design

The body is extruded magnesium, which is the right call for a hand float that sees day-to-day action. Extrusion gives you a consistent, dense profile that stays true. The working face on mine arrived dead flat with clean, even bevels at the ends and nicely eased corners. Those eased corners matter: they let me get close to forms and around penetrations without leaving little crescent marks that show up after the final pass.

At 1.41 pounds, the float is light enough to run for long sessions without pumping your forearms, but it still has enough mass to ride the surface instead of chattering over aggregate. The soft-grip plastic handle is molded and overmolded in a way that gives you a little cushion without getting spongy. The handle height gives adequate knuckle clearance over the slab; even along form boards, I didn’t feel pinched.

Fit and finish are tidy. The handle is secure with no wiggle, and the blade edges came uniform from the factory. After several cleanings, I don’t see any lifting of the grip or movement at the interface.

In the slab: how it floats

Magnesium excels at the early and intermediate stages—after screeding and bull floating, when the bleed water has gone and you need to bring up paste without sealing the surface too early. The DeWalt float hits that sweet spot. On standard 4,000 PSI mixes, it brought up cream quickly with minimal strokes. With a drier curb mix, I had to work a touch more, but the float didn’t skate or polish; it kept the surface open and workable.

Direction changes are where some floats bite you. Here, the beveling on the ends and the generous edge breaks let me switch from push to pull without catching a corner. On long, straight passes, the float tracks well and doesn’t wander. If I need to correct a low spot, I can put a slight heel into the tool and feather without leaving a noticeable plane change.

Across broom-finish slabs, steps, and pads, the float’s footprint felt like a good balance—wide enough to span small irregularities, narrow enough to sneak into tighter bays and around anchor bolts. If you mostly work big open pours, you’ll complement it with longer floats, but for day-to-day general work, 16 x 3.25 is a very workable size.

Ergonomics and control

The soft-grip handle pays off over an afternoon. The diameter feels right with or without gloves, and the texture keeps your hand positioned even when things get wet. I like a wood handle for certain tools, but on a float, this soft-grip plastic is easy on the wrists and doesn’t get slick. There’s also something to be said for the high-visibility color—easy to spot around a chaotic jobsite.

Balance is more important than the raw weight number. This float is neutral in hand—no nose-heavy dive that can gouge on the first touch, and no tail-heavy feel that forces you to grip harder to keep it flat. That neutrality makes subtle angle changes easy, which is what you want when you’re chasing the right cream without overworking the surface.

Edges, corners, and cleanup

The rounded corners are genuinely useful. Along forms, curb returns, and inside corners, I could float right up to the edge without making marks that require extra cleanup later. On pullback strokes across open slab, the ends don’t print, even if you speed up a bit to catch up with a setting mix.

Cleanup has been painless. Concrete paste doesn’t cling to the magnesium the way it does to some anodized or rougher-cast tools. A quick rinse and a nylon brush before things set is all it takes to keep it looking sharp. After repeated washdowns, the face hasn’t picked up corrosion or pitting, and the edges haven’t burred from normal contact with forms.

Durability after real use

Extruded magnesium is tough, and this blade has held up to drops and occasional bumps without deforming. The working face has stayed flat, and the edges have kept their geometry without me needing to dress them. The handle attachment shows no signs of loosening, which is something that can happen on floats with poorly bonded grips or weak fasteners.

I don’t baby my floats, but I don’t abuse them either. If you routinely pry against forms or drag through gravel, you can damage any tool; used as intended, this one feels like it’ll be around for years. The 1-year manufacturer warranty and a 90-day return window provide a little extra assurance, though I haven’t needed either.

Where it shines—and where it doesn’t

Strengths:
- Early to mid-stage finishing: brings up paste quickly without sealing too soon
- Balanced, predictable handling that reduces gouging and chatter
- Comfortable handle that minimizes hot spots and grip fatigue
- Easy cleanup and minimal paste adhesion

Trade-offs and considerations:
- The plastic soft-grip handle won’t appeal to dyed-in-the-wool wood-handle traditionalists
- At 16 x 3.25 in., it’s a generalist; for very tight forms or large open flatwork, you’ll still want specialty sizes
- It’s a float, not a trowel—plan to follow with a steel trowel if you’re going for a closed, hard finish

None of those are flaws so much as matching tool to task. If you need one versatile hand float in the truck, this one fits the role.

Practical tips from use

• Let the bleed water go. Like any mag float, it will punish you if you work too early, bringing water to the surface and compromising durability.
• Keep your angle low. A slight heel lift is all you need; steep angles will overwork the paste and can leave tracks.
• Break edges intentionally. On steps and pads, float right up to forms before stripping; the eased corners help create a clean line for brooming.
• Rinse immediately after use. A quick brush and rinse extends the life of the magnesium and keeps the face true.

Who it’s for

• General contractors and finishers who want a reliable all-around mag float
• DIYers tackling patios, pads, and steps who appreciate a forgiving tool that helps avoid surface gouges
• Crews standardizing on a comfortable, high-visibility handle that’s easy to spot and easy to hang onto

The bottom line

The DeWalt mag float gets the fundamentals right: a flat, durable magnesium blade; smartly beveled ends and rounded corners that reduce mistakes; and a comfortable, secure handle that makes long sessions easier. It’s light without feeling flimsy, cleans up quickly, and stays predictable across different mixes and weather. After using it on a variety of small to mid-sized pours, it’s earned a permanent spot in my finishing kit.

Recommendation: I recommend this float. It’s a balanced, durable, and comfortable choice for early finishing work, with thoughtful edge geometry that prevents the kind of small surface blemishes that cost you time later. If you need one dependable hand float for general concrete work, this one is an easy pick.