DeWalt 8 Piece Full Polish Ratcheting Combination Metric Wrench Set

Why I reached for this set

I’ve gathered a small army of combination wrenches over the years, but a compact metric ratcheting set is what I reach for most in day-to-day work—automotive fasteners in tight engine bays, appliance installs, and hardware on outdoor equipment. After several weeks with the DeWalt metric ratcheting wrench set (8 pieces: 10–16 and 18 mm), I’ve formed a clear picture of where it excels, where it compromises, and who it best serves.

Build and finish

The first impression is classic DeWalt: solid, tidy, and purpose-built. The full polish chrome finish is even and consistent, with nicely radiused edges that don’t bite into your hand under load. The polish cleans up quickly after greasy jobs and resists corrosion in the humid corner of my garage. DeWalt’s stamped size markings appear on both sides of each handle and are easy to read at a glance—helpful when you’re digging through a drawer mid-task. The stamped hashmark pattern on the grip is subtle; it adds just enough traction with light oil on your hands without feeling abrasive.

Nothing feels loose or “gritty” out of the box. The ratcheting rings are pressed cleanly and sit square in the box ends. These are not extra-long pattern wrenches, nor deliberately short; they land in a middle ground that makes sense for general work and minimizes the chance of over-torquing small fasteners.

Ratcheting performance

Each box end uses a 72‑tooth mechanism, which yields a 5° swing arc. In practice, that means you only need a small nudge to grab the next tooth—useful in places where you can barely waggle your wrist. I tested this under a dashboard bracket where there’s less than a knuckle’s worth of room; the wrench advanced the fastener reliably without the “lost motion” you sometimes get on budget ratchets.

Reversing direction is done the standard way for this style: flip the wrench over. There’s no lever or switch. It’s simple and durable, though it can be mildly inconvenient when access allows only one wrench orientation. If you often work around obstacles that trap the wrench in one face-up orientation, you may miss a reversible lever or a flex head (this set has neither).

Access in tight spaces

Two geometry features stand out:

• The 15° offset on the open end lets you flip the wrench to index the flats every 30°, which is exactly what you want when you’re “walking” a nut in a confined space.
• The ratcheting box end extends your reach in nooks where a socket and ratchet won’t fit.

Between those, I was able to loosen an alternator bracket bolt tucked behind a coolant hose using the 14 mm, then switch to the ratcheting end to quickly run the fastener out. On a bike stem clamp (10 mm), the open end’s offset kept my knuckles clear of a cable guide—small detail, big difference.

There’s no flex head here, so you don’t get the extreme approach angles that a pivoting ratcheting wrench offers. The trade-off is strength and control: fixed heads transmit torque predictably and don’t flop around when you’re hunting for the fastener.

Fastener engagement and the “DirectTorque” design

DeWalt’s DirectTorque geometry drives the flats more than the corners to reduce rounding. That’s not unique in the market, but it’s well executed. I intentionally used the 13 mm on a mildly rounded caliper bracket bolt. Paired with the ratcheting box end, it bit confidently without camming off. On clean hardware, it feels positive and surefooted, and the open end stays planted better than older, more squared-off profiles I own.

If your work regularly involves abused, corroded fasteners, a six-point socket still rules, but these wrenches punch above their weight in that gray zone where you want speed but don’t want to risk further rounding.

Ergonomics and markings

The handles have a gentle taper and enough girth to avoid hotspots when you’re bearing down. The hashmark pattern is understated—good with light or nitrile gloves, not as transformative as a knurled handle but noticeably less slippery than a mirror-slick polish.

The double-sided, large size stamps are a small quality-of-life advantage. I rarely had to flip or rotate a wrench to confirm the size, which matters when you’re bouncing between 12 and 13 mm on a component with mixed fasteners.

Size coverage and gaps

The set covers 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 18 mm. That spans a lot of common automotive and equipment hardware, but it skips 17 mm. In my work, 17 mm shows up often enough (suspension links, some accessories, mower hardware) that I noticed its absence. You also don’t get 8 or 9 mm, which are handy for hose clamps and small brackets. If this is your only metric ratcheting set, expect to supplement it.

That said, the included sizes are the ones I grab most: 10–15 mm account for the bulk of the fasteners I see. The 18 mm is a smart inclusion for larger chassis work.

Durability and torque

I leaned on the 15 and 18 mm harder than I usually would with a ratcheting combination wrench—breaking loose a rusty hitch bracket and an over-torqued mower spindle nut. The ratchet mechanism stayed consistent and didn’t skip. There’s inherent risk in shock-loading any ratcheting ring; if a fastener truly needs a breaker bar, use one. But for steady pull and controlled force, the set held up well. The chrome shows minor micro-scratches after a few dirty jobs, nothing atypical.

DeWalt backs the set with a full lifetime warranty. I didn’t need to test it, but it’s reassuring for a tool you’re likely to use often and hard.

Comparisons and context

• Versus higher-tooth competitors (90–120T): You’ll get a slightly shorter swing arc elsewhere, but the practical difference between 5° and 4° is marginal unless you’re constantly working in extremely cramped spaces. The 72T mechanism here feels smooth and secure.
• Versus flex-head ratcheting sets: Flex heads excel around obstructions. If you do a lot of underhood work, a flex-head set may be worth it. In return, fixed heads like these are simpler, typically stronger, and easier to control under load.
• Versus budget, no-name ratcheting sets: This DeWalt set’s fit, finish, and fastener engagement are on a different level—cleaner ratchet action, better geometry on the open end, and more durable markings.

Day-to-day use cases

• Automotive: 10 and 12 mm for battery hardware and brackets; 13 and 14 mm for calipers and accessory mounts; 18 mm for chassis fasteners where a socket won’t fit.
• Home and equipment: 10–13 mm cover appliance installs, furniture, and garden equipment. The ratcheting ends speed up reassembly after you’ve cracked fasteners loose with the open end or a socket.

In all these, I appreciated being able to switch from cracking torque on the open end to a quick ratcheting run-out without changing tools.

What I’d change

• Add 17 mm. It’s a conspicuous omission for a metric set aimed at general mechanics.
• Consider a flex-head variant. That would broaden the set’s reach in complex assemblies.
• Include a reversing lever on the ratchet ring for users who often can’t flip the wrench due to clearance. It’s a trade-off (more parts, slightly bulkier head), but some will prefer it.

None of these are dealbreakers for what the set is: a compact, general-purpose kit with solid fundamentals.

Value

As an 8‑piece kit with a quality ratcheting mechanism, thoughtful markings, and a durable finish, the value proposition is strong—especially if you already own standard combination wrenches and just want a dependable ratcheting upgrade for the most-used metric sizes. If you need comprehensive coverage in one purchase, you might look for a larger set that fills the 8–9 and 17 mm gaps, but expect to pay more.

Bottom line

I like this set because it emphasizes the details that matter in real use: smooth 72T ratcheting, smart open-end offset, durable markings you can actually read, and a finish that cleans up easily. The omission of 17 mm is the only real thorn, and the lack of flex heads or a reversing lever reflects a design choice toward simplicity and strength.

Recommendation: I recommend this DeWalt metric ratcheting wrench set to mechanics, DIYers, and equipment techs who want a compact, reliable kit for the core metric sizes they use every day. It balances access, speed, and durability well for the price. If your work regularly demands 17 mm or extreme access around obstructions, plan to supplement with a single 17 mm ratcheting wrench or a flex-head set; otherwise, this is a smart, confidence-inspiring addition to the drawer.