A Toro 60V 10-inch pole saw review points to a cordless option for pruning reachable limbs, not a replacement for equipment meant for larger tree work. The 51870 has a 10-inch bar and chain, and its angled head is intended to approach branches from above. [1][2] To go further, see DEWALT 20V Cordless Pole Saw Review: Practical Verdict.
That makes it a candidate for routine yard pruning when the branches you need to remove fit the pole-saw task. The available field-test detail covers branches 2–4 inches thick, so treat this as a limited look at that range—not a complete hands-on assessment of every job or condition. [2]
Where this saw fits
Think of the 51870 as a tool for trimming individual limbs from a position below the branch. For example, if you are clearing a few smaller branches that overhang a walkway, a pole saw is a more relevant tool category than equipment intended for major tree work. The 51870’s 60V cordless design and 10-inch bar place it among the options to consider for that kind of pruning. [1] It also helps to read SKIL PWR CORE 40V 10 Inch Pole Saw: Product Tour.
The angled head is a practical design detail for approaching a branch from above, rather than trying to bring the saw straight into it. [2] Still, the available test description is narrow: it reports cuts on branches 2–4 inches thick, but does not provide a broad account of prolonged use, varied wood, or larger limbs. [2]
What this review can tell you
Use the reported branch range as a point of reference, not as proof that the saw is suited to every limb in your yard. A branch within that range may still call for care and a clear plan for where it will fall; do not treat a pole saw as a substitute for equipment or help suited to larger tree work.
If your pruning needs are mostly smaller, individual limbs, the 51870’s format is relevant to your task. If you expect substantial tree work, assess that job separately rather than assuming this review covers it. The practical verdict is therefore about fit: a cordless pole saw for limb pruning, with only limited field-test detail available for the branch sizes described.
What does the 51870 offer on paper?
On paper, the Toro 51870 pairs a 60V battery platform with a 10-inch bar and chain and a brushless motor, while its published cut count is a best-case figure to treat as a benchmark. [1]
The core specifications
The listing describes the saw as a 60V MAX brushless cordless pole saw and specifies a 10-inch bar and chain. [1] Those details give you a simple starting point for comparing the model with another saw: look at the cutting setup and motor type alongside the battery platform, rather than judging the tool by a voltage label alone.
A 10-inch bar and chain are the listed cutting components; the page does not provide additional detail here about chain speed, bar length adjustments, or other performance figures. [1] If those details matter for your work, check the current product information before buying instead of assuming that one specification answers every question.
How to read the cut-count claim
Toro advertises up to 80 cuts of 4-by-4-inch branches on a single charge. [1] “Up to” describes the stated maximum, not a guaranteed result for every yard, battery condition, or cutting session.
Use that figure as a reference point, not a promise that your saw will make the same number of cuts. The claim names a specific branch size and a single charge, so avoid treating it as a direct estimate for different wood, different cuts, or a full day of pruning.
Check the package and platform
Before you buy, confirm what the specific listing includes; the product detail provided here does not specify whether a battery or charger comes in the package. [1] A tool-only listing and a kit listing can require different follow-up purchases, so check the included items rather than relying on a photo or a general model description.
Also verify that any battery or charger you plan to use is compatible with the 51870. Check the current product details for the exact package and compatibility information, especially if you already own tools on another battery platform.
How does it handle typical branch cuts?
The available cutting test supports the Toro 51870 for branches about 2–4 inches thick, but it does not show how the saw performs on heavier or sustained work. In that tested range, the review describes the branches as a suitable size for the bar and motor, giving you a practical reference for ordinary pruning rather than a broad performance promise. [2]
What the branch test tells you
For a job like trimming a few branches around 3 inches thick, the test is relevant: that example falls within the range the reviewer cut. The reported range helps you judge whether your planned cuts resemble the test, but it does not tell you how quickly every branch will cut or how the saw will behave in every kind of wood. [2]
Branch thickness is only one part of the decision. If the limbs you need to prune are mostly within the tested range, the review gives you a closer comparison point than a claim about larger cuts; if your work is mainly on thicker limbs, do not treat this test as evidence that the saw is suited to them. [2]
Why the angled head matters
The head is angled so you can approach a branch from above at a more aggressive angle. [2] In practice, that design is meant to help position the cutting head for an overhead cut, such as reaching down toward a branch rather than approaching it straight on. The design detail explains the intended approach, but it is not a measured result showing that the saw cuts faster or handles every branch more easily.
Use the test as a narrow guide: it covers branches in the 2–4-inch range, not dense workloads or long sessions. [2] It also does not establish battery runtime during that test, so avoid assuming that the same result applies across a full pruning day. For your own yard, compare the branch sizes and amount of work you expect with this limited test, and treat anything outside it as unverified.
How should you compare it with a DEWALT 20V setup?
Compare the exact saw and kit details—not just “60V” versus “20V”—because voltage labels alone do not tell you which setup fits your work. Toro lists the 51870 with a 10-inch bar and chain and claims up to 80 cuts of 4-by-4-inch branches per charge. [1] The details here do not provide a matching DEWALT model’s specifications or a direct performance test, so use the table as a checklist for comparing the exact models you are considering.
Criterion | Toro 51870 | DEWALT 20V setup |
|---|---|---|
Bar and chain | 10 inches [1] | Check the exact saw model |
Published cut figure | Toro claims up to 80 cuts of 4-by-4-inch branches per charge [1] | Check the exact model’s stated figure, if provided |
Battery and charger | Confirm what the specific listing includes | Confirm what the specific listing includes |
Existing tools | Consider whether you already own compatible Toro batteries and tools | Consider whether you already own compatible DEWALT batteries and tools |
Treat the Toro’s published cut figure and a DEWALT runtime figure, if available, as separate specifications—not as proof of which saw will run longer in your yard. [1]
If you already own batteries and chargers, first check whether they match the exact pole-saw model; do not assume that tools sharing a brand or voltage label use interchangeable batteries. The product details here do not establish a direct test against DEWALT, so choose by verified model specifications and your existing compatible tools rather than by the voltage number alone.
Who is the Toro 51870 best suited to?
The Toro 51870 is best suited to limb pruning that fits a pole saw’s role, whether you’re trimming now and then or keeping up with routine yard work. Think of jobs such as removing manageable limbs over a path or clearing small branches from a tree; match the tool to the cut rather than assuming it can handle every branch you can reach.
Use Toro’s 4-by-4-inch cut figure as a benchmark, not a guarantee for every limb. The product page says the saw can make up to 80 cuts of 4-by-4-inch branches on a charge, but that figure doesn’t promise the same result with different wood, branch condition, or workload. [1]
For example, a clean, sound branch and a weathered or irregular limb may not behave alike. Treat the published figure as a reference for the stated branch size, then judge each job by the actual limb and how much pruning you need to do. Don’t plan a large cleanup on the assumption that every cut will match the benchmark.
If your yard regularly needs cuts beyond that benchmark, or you have many large limbs to remove, pause before choosing this saw. Check the product details and owner’s manual for the tool’s stated limits, and consider whether a different tool or a qualified tree-care professional is a better fit. For work that feels too large or awkward to manage from the ground with a pole saw, getting help is the practical choice.
The key fit question is how often your pruning jobs stay within a pole saw’s intended range. If the work is occasional or routine limb trimming and the branches suit the tool, the 51870 may fit; if larger or frequent jobs are typical, verify its limits before committing.
What should you check before buying?
Before you buy the Toro 51870, verify what the specific listing includes, read the current product details, and check the manual’s care and safety guidance. That quick check can help you avoid ordering a tool-only package when you expected a battery and charger, or missing maintenance steps you’ll need after use.
Confirm the package contents
Don’t assume every listing has the same package contents.
Look for an explicit “battery and charger included” statement in the exact listing you plan to order. If it says “tool only,” or does not spell out the contents, ask the seller before checkout; also confirm that any battery or charger you already own is compatible with this model.
Read the care and safety details
Check the current product page and owner’s manual for the instructions that apply to your saw. The product page describes a 10-inch bar and chain, so confirm that the manual covers the bar-and-chain care and safe-use steps for this model. [1]
Before starting a job, read the manual’s instructions for inspection, operation, and maintenance rather than relying on a general pole-saw routine. For example, check the specified chain-care procedure and follow the manual’s guidance on handling the saw; don’t guess at adjustments or safe working practices.
Verify the listing before you order
Compare current listings for the exact model and package, and check availability at the time you plan to buy. Don’t rely on an old price, a search-result snippet, or a listing photo to determine whether the battery and charger are included.
If two listings look similar, compare their stated contents and product details side by side. Keep the seller’s package description handy when you place the order, and contact the seller if the listing leaves an important detail unclear. Check the current price and availability on the seller’s page rather than treating an older listing as current.
Make the call based on your yard and battery system
Choose the Toro 51870 if its 10-inch bar, 60V platform, and pruning role match the work you expect to do and the equipment you already own. Its published specification lists a 10-inch bar and chain and up to 80 cuts of 4-by-4-inch branches on one charge, but treat that cut count as a stated maximum rather than a promise for your yard. [1]
Before ordering, check the current product listing for what comes in the box, then compare those details with the saw you actually need. For example, if you already have batteries and a charger, make sure the listing and your equipment match; if you do not, confirm what you would need to add. Also think through the branches you expect to prune, rather than deciding from the bar length alone.
If you are comparing the Toro with a DEWALT setup, match exact models and included items instead of choosing by the voltage number. A 60V label versus a 20V label does not, by itself, tell you which saw is the better fit; consider the battery platform you use and the pruning tasks you want the saw to handle. Check compatibility for the particular tool and battery before buying, and compare the specifications that matter for your work.
The practical takeaway is to choose the Toro when its platform and stated pruning capacity line up with your yard, not simply because its voltage sounds higher. Before you place an order, verify the current specifications and kit contents, then compare those details with the branch sizes you expect to cut. If the fit is unclear, pause and confirm the specific model and battery setup rather than guessing from a product name.