DeWalt 60 in. (1500 mm) Wrecking Bar

Why I reached for a 60-inch bar

Fence posts set in clay, a beat-up garden slab, and a handful of stubborn roots—those were the jobs that sent me looking for a long, heavy bar with real leverage. This 60-inch bar quickly became the tool I carried from the truck to the fence line without thinking twice. It’s deceptively simple: a long steel shaft with a pointed tip on one end and a wedge-shaped prying/chopping end on the other. But the combination of length, mass, and heat-treated tips turns simple into useful in a hurry.

Build and design details that matter

• Length: 60 inches. That gives you leverage that shorter pry bars just can’t match.
• Shaft: 1-inch hex steel. The hex profile is more than a style choice—it provides flats that improve hand purchase (with gloves) and keeps the bar from rolling off uneven ground.
• Weight: About 4 kg (roughly 9 lb). The mass helps the pointed tip drive into hard soil and encourages cracks in concrete.
• Tips: One pointed tip for concentrating force; one wedge end that works for prying, levering, and chopping roots.
• Finish: Powder-coated to help resist rust.
• Heat treatment: Both ends are heat-treated to resist mushrooming and premature wear.
• Warranty: Lifetime limited.

The geometry here is classic “San Angelo”-style utility: a point to start holes, fractures, and pilot paths, and a wedge for expanding, cutting, or levering. The wedge is around 2 inches wide, which is a sweet spot for slicing roots and sneaking under pavers or timbers without needing a jack.

In the dirt: posts, roots, and compacted ground

This bar is in its element outdoors. In packed clay with embedded gravel, the pointed tip drives cleanly with body weight and a few controlled drops. I used it to open a pilot hole around a fence post, then alternated between the point and wedge to loosen backfill and sever roots. The length gives you enough travel to work the point like a piston, and the weight helps it sink without resorting to wild swings.

On roots up to about 2–3 inches, the wedge end cuts effectively with a combination of rocking pressure and short, deliberate chops. It’s not an axe, but the leverage means you’re often pushing or prying more than you’re striking. For shallow roots under sod, I found I could slip the wedge under and roll the bar to pop a length free without tearing up the whole area.

The hex shaft’s flats help with grip when your gloves are muddy. It also gives a tactile reference for orientation—you can feel where the wedge is pointed without looking.

Concrete and stone: where it shines and where it doesn’t

I used the bar to fracture a 3-inch garden slab and lift broken sections. The point concentrates force very well: work along a chalk line, drive the tip, and you’ll hear and feel the micro-cracks. Returning to the same line a few times widens the crack, and the wedge then helps lift and separate. On pavers, the wedge is gentle enough to lift a corner without pulverizing the block.

A few realities:
- The bar will not replace a rotary hammer or breaker for thick structural concrete. It’s a crack starter and a lever, not a jackhammer.
- On stones and boulders, a precise point placement can persuade a fracture, but you’ll need patience and good reading of grain.

What I appreciated most was the control. The length lets you stand upright, away from flying chips, and the bar’s mass dampens some of the rebound you get with lighter pry bars.

Leverage, control, and ergonomics

At 60 inches, leverage is the headline feature. I used the bar to lift an old sill section and to tease free timbers pinned in place by compacted dirt. With the fulcrum close to your load and the handle up high, you can move surprisingly heavy material without resorting to a jack or machine.

Trade-offs:
- In confined spaces, it’s unwieldy. For interior demo or tight basements, this is not your bar—grab a 24–36-inch pry bar instead.
- The weight will tire your hands and shoulders if you treat it like a hammer all day. Use the length and mass to your advantage: push, roll, lever, and let gravity assist; don’t swing it like a sledge.

The hex shaft edges are comfortable with gloves, but as the finish wears, the flats feel a bit sharper in hand. I wouldn’t use it bare-handed for long stretches.

Durability and maintenance observations

The heat-treated ends hold up well. After a day of pushing through gravel and chipping at a slab edge, I saw only light peening—nothing approaching serious mushrooming. A quick dressing with a file keeps the tips crisp and safe.

The finish is where I saw the most compromise. The powder coat resists initial scuffs, but heavy impact and prying inevitably cause chips and flakes. After a few aggressive sessions, a couple of flakes left edges sharp enough to notice. This is cosmetic, but it’s worth addressing:
- Knock down any sharp flakes or burrs with a file.
- Spot-treat bare steel with a rust inhibitor or a quick spray of enamel to slow corrosion.
- Expect the tool to show wear. That’s the nature of a bar that lives in rock and concrete.

Rust resistance is decent so long as you don’t leave it wet in the truck bed for a week. After rain, I saw light surface rust on scuffed areas but nothing structural. Wipe-downs and occasional touch-ups keep it in check.

Safety notes and technique tips

• Wear eye protection. Chips fly when you’re fracturing concrete or cutting roots in rocky soil.
• Steel-toe boots matter when a 9-pound bar is in play.
• Don’t use the ends as an anvil for sledge strikes; it’s hard on the heat treatment and contributes to sharp flaking at the edges.
• Use the length: place the point, let gravity start the penetration, then guide the bar rather than swinging wildly.
• For prying, stack a scrap of wood under the fulcrum to protect surfaces and multiply your lift.

Where it fits in a kit

If your work includes landscaping, fence installation or removal, small slab breakup, setting posts, or lifting pavers and timbers, this 60-inch bar earns its space. Carpenters and remodelers who occasionally work outside will also appreciate the leverage on decking, ledger removal, or sill tweaks. For interior demo alone, it’s overkill; keep a shorter flat bar or cat’s paw in your bag for that.

I’d also call it a good companion tool: pair it with a compact sledge, a digging shovel, and loppers. The bar opens, lifts, and persuades; the other tools clean up and finish.

The bottom line

The value of this bar is straightforward: length plus mass plus tough tips equals leverage and control on stubborn materials. The 1-inch hex shaft feels secure in hand, the pointed tip drives where you want it, and the wedge end handles prying and root cutting without fuss. The heat-treated ends have held up well for me under abusive, real-world tasks.

My only complaint is the finish. The powder coat looks great out of the box but chips under hard use, and those chips can leave sharp edges you’ll want to dress. It’s a maintenance note rather than a deal-breaker, but it’s there.

Recommendation: I recommend this 60-inch bar for anyone who routinely works outdoors with soil, roots, concrete, or heavy materials that need persuasion. The leverage and durability justify the weight and length, and the lifetime limited warranty adds peace of mind. If your work is mostly interior demo or you want a bar that stays pristine, look for something shorter or more refined. For ground work, fence lines, and light concrete breakup, this is the right tool at the right size.