SKIL PWR CORE 20 Brushless 20V Reciprocating Saw Kit (RS5870B-10) review

RS5870B-10 is the kit SKU for SKIL’s brushless 20V reciprocating saw. This assessment is based on the exact manufacturer page, the manual linked from that page, and its package-specific listing—not on hands-on use or cutting tests. It is most useful to evaluate as a standard two-hand cordless saw with a specified battery and charger, rather than as an interchangeable “bare tool” version of every RS5870B offer.

What SKIL documents about the saw

The exact page describes a digital brushless motor, variable-speed trigger, one-inch stroke and up to 3,200 strokes per minute. The manual’s specification table independently identifies a 20V DC saw, a one-inch stroke and a 0–3,200 SPM no-load rate. That top number is a no-load rating, not a prediction of how quickly this saw will cut a particular board, pipe or nail-filled demolition assembly. Blade selection, material, contact, battery state and the cut plan still matter.

SKIL lists a pivoting shoe that can slide to change its position, with two release screws adjusted using the included hex key. The shoe also pivots against a surface. These are useful distinctions: movement can expose a less-worn blade section and change the effective stroke, while keeping the shoe planted supports the cut. The manufacturer describes a counter-balanced gearbox as a vibration-control feature; that is a design claim, not an independently measured vibration result. The page also lists a single LED, electric brake and lock-off control. A selectable orbital setting is not established by the reviewed page or manual, so a buyer who requires orbital action should not treat this SKU as a documented match.

The -10 package is part of the identity

The selected page identifies RS5870B-10 and names the included saw body as RS5870B-00. Its written contents list a BY519701 2.0Ah PWR CORE 20 battery, SC535801 charger, wood-cutting blade and hex key. The 1000-pixel primary page image shows the saw with a 2.0Ah battery attached, but it does not show the charger, blade or key. The written contents—not an image—are the basis for those inclusions. The -10 kit should stay distinct from a tool-only offer or a listing that uses a similar product-family photograph.

SKIL’s page gives a 3.62 lb “Tool Weight” value, with 16-inch length, 3.1-inch width and 6.4-inch height. It does not publish a battery-installed or complete-kit carry weight in the reviewed material. A buyer comparing overhead handling or carrying the saw between work areas should not use 3.62 lb as though it were the entire loaded setup. The included 2.0Ah battery also does not imply that other SKIL voltage systems or other manufacturers’ batteries fit; PWR CORE 20 is a distinct platform, and the public finder does not offer it as a named platform choice.

Grip, blade and setup considerations

The 20V saw is not presented as a one-handed model. Its manual’s general cutting instructions call for firm two-hand control and a securely supported workpiece. That direction matters even when a cut seems small: the saw can move abruptly if the blade catches, and the free hand should not be used to steady loose stock near the cutting path. Before installation or adjustment, the manual tells the user to lock the tool off and remove the battery. After inserting a blade, it directs the user to test that the clamp has locked it in place.

The manual calls for keeping the shoe against the work while cutting and checking that the blade passes beyond the shoe throughout its stroke. Its instructions distinguish general cutting from plunge cuts and advise backing the shoe and blade into the work carefully. A saw’s one-inch stroke and no-load figure do not substitute for a blade appropriate to the material or for securing the work. The included wood blade is a useful starting item, not evidence that the package contains a blade for every demolition, metal or pruning job.

Where this configuration is a sensible candidate

This exact package is relevant to someone who wants a two-hand cordless reciprocating saw and does not already own a compatible PWR CORE 20 battery and charger. The supplied equipment is unusually clear at the part-number level compared with packages whose pages name only a capacity or charger family. If the user already owns the platform, a verified tool-only configuration may avoid duplicate charging hardware—but this assessment covers only the observed RS5870B-10 kit SKU. For tighter access or a compact one-hand format, compare the site’s separate compact-saw assessments instead of reading “reciprocating saw” as one common format.

Limitations of the evidence

No laboratory or jobsite test was performed, and this review makes no claim about actual cut rate, runtime, vibration level, durability or service life. The source record does not establish a battery-installed weight, full-kit weight, blade-shank dimensions, lock-on switch, or selectable orbital action. Its marketing descriptions of speed, vibration reduction and cutting performance remain manufacturer claims. Before purchase, confirm the complete RS5870B-10 code, the exact in-box list, current manual for the saw and charging components, and whether the saw’s dimensions and battery-on balance suit the work. Use personal protection, isolate power before changing blades, and secure the workpiece as the manual directs.