I bought a small compressor at Lowes the day after Thanksgiving because it was on sale. Normally $79., on sale for $49. It sat in my garage until last week when I first got a chance to use it. It’s a tiny pancake model that doesn’t weight more then 10 pounds. It supplied an 18guage Bostitch that I was using to run door and floor trim. It worked great and didn’t seem to recycle that often. I wanted to mention it only because of the recent discussions about the new bottled gas cartridge which are supposedly so light and easy to cart around on small jobs. This (Powermate) is the perfect light trim compressor to carry up to the 2nd floor when you have that small refinishing job to do. It came with a small stapler which I haven’t tried, but might come in handy down the line. I might add it looks very Chinese and junky. The kit also included the hose and all required quick connects.
My regular pancake is going to be used alot less.`
Replies
retiree,
I once bought a 1/2 hp chineese compressor about a decade and a half ago.
That little thing has helped me out a ton. I can easily cart it to where the air hose is too short to reach and it will drive two roofing nailers or a big framing nailer. When I sandblast stuff I hook it and my big 7 hp compressor together and the air pressure stays up that much longer. Plus once when my big compressor failed I used the little 1/2 for a month untill I figured out the problem with the big one..
I paid $50.00 for it and it's been well worth every cent ten times over!
This thing just seems a simpler solution to lugging a big compressor up the stairs for that small job, especially when I saw the price they were talking for the bottled gas setup. Then you have to find a place to recharge the bottle when it's empty. Needless to say, it's always going to go dry in the middle of the job. So now are you going to buy two? If this little thing lasts a year or two it's a good deal. I completely trimmed out three rooms with it and had no problem. The hose is one of those coil jobs, but I found myself just unplugging the compressor and carrying it to a closer outlet.
Been using the little compressors now for almost 10 years. Had a Devilbiss 2 gal lasted about 7 years, now I bought a Huskey 3 gal, weighs in at around 20 lbs and sits right up on the top shelf in my van. I think I paid $89 for it and if it konked out tomorrow, it wouldn't owe me a thing, and I would go right out and buy another. I love 'em.
I have a 36 gal garage comp and the framers twin tanks, but I use the little guy twice as much because mostly what I'm doing is finish.
I have the little Senco.
don't even know if they still a make it ... bought it at the used tool shop for $40.
I'd gladly pay twice that to replace it. Weighs maybe 15 lbs?
one hand carry ... the compressor ... flexeel hose .. and 18g nailer case.
it won't even sink my 15g senco nailer ... and I don't even care!
coupla years ago I bought the worlds cheapest chop saw ... a delta ... 8.5" ... thing is the cheesiest POS chop saw ... but for base and shoe in an attic ... it's killer!
colonial casing even!
Put a $40 blade on a $40 saw ... and it'll walk up those 3rd floor attic steps in the open hand with the compressor/nail gun in the other ... no sweat.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Jeff, not sure if its the same model as yours, but my lumberyard manager/tool junkie just showed me a tiny little Senco he just got. I think it would be pretty handy - could lift it with one finger. I think he said around $150. I hope to buy it from him when he's done with it, if I can wait that long.
Mike
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Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
just checked their site ... pretty sure this is the one I have. Says 1hp ...
didn't think mine was even that high. Woulda guessed 1/2 hp.
$150 ... sounds pricey for the one I have.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Senco PC1010 4 Amp 1/2 Horsepower 1 Gallon Oil-Free Single Hot Dog Compressor
View ImageOK .. 1/2 HP 1 gal ... $130 ... from amazon. Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Yea, that looks like the one he showed me, best i can remember.
But ya say it won't sink 15 ga. nails??
Mike
maybe one every 15 minutes!
actually ... maybe not even that. I just know I've stopped trying. Biggest it'll sink on a consistent basis is an 18g ... 18's and 23's ... all day long ... into anything.
I don't have a 16g ... so that, I don't know. But I do remember pulling out the nail set for the 15g's ... and ... I remember thinking I'm really over heating the little guy trying to shoot in the 15g's I had in mind.
did it once ... forget if it was kitchen trim or a coupla doors, or what ...
but I do know I won't use it for more than my 18g.
then ... it shines.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
OK, yea, I got a similar little compressor, but with two little tanks. Tried to shoot a few framing nails with it - not so good. Maybe two nails every couple minutes. Works great for finish guns though.
Mike
tried that same one with my paslode powermaster plus ...
just to see if I could patiently punchlist framing?
not even close. Shot 3 or 4 nails ...
each one ... full "tank recovery" ...
took about 15 minutes and the thing sounded like it was ready to explode.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
This is the one I've got
http://www.everyaircompressor.com/Grip-Rite-GR152CM-GRT1000.html
Seems to be pretty good so far . . .
Can't remember what I paid - got a good deal from supplier, plus I had a discount coupon from a JLC live show I went to. Picked it up last fall, I'll see how well it does.
looks like a good compromise.
my other one is a Thomas(st2820) ... weighs about 70lbs or so ...
powers anything I need ... but weighs more than I like to break out for a small trim job.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I've got a heavy P-C that I usually use for framing, like ya said kinda heavy for a little trim work.
What you still doing up anyway . . . I'm watching Red Dragon on the dish. Can't sleep from the concoction of meds I'm on.
Mike
being the bad father that I am ...
3 month old finally passed out after 2 ...
and I decided the 5 year old could "stay up" and help me babysit.(again) He's sound asleep on the couch ... the baby is now up stairs asleep ... and I'm thinking he'll stay on the couch till the morning!
damn kid weighs almost as much as that compressor! (ok ... maybe he's close to 45-50lbs ... but it's late ... and he's comfy! ... and heavy!)
we're all night owls around here ... everyone except for the wife. But she catches a break on weekends ... 'cause I always volunteer to herd the kids late nite and she gets to sleep. I'm the dumb one who stays up latest and gets dragged outta bed for the weekend adventures ...
off to bother the wife.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I used my senco with my PC 15 gauge and it sinks the nails. If I'm doing a lot of trim I use my other trim compressor, but the senco is great for a small job.
Marion
Jeff,
I just picked that up at JLC with a brad nailer for $179.00
Sure hope your wrong about the finsh nailer though.[email protected]
WHICH content will be free, of course; WHICH content will require registration; but WHICH content will be available only to members of FineHomebuilding.com.???
I don't have much Sears stuff anymore, but I picked up a small compressor about 7-8 months ago. I use it almost daily for trim, all guages, and occasionally for running my Paslode framer to bang a few walls together while remodeling. So far, it has been great.
Here's the link:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Compressors+%
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It's cheap, it's light, it's delightful.
_______________________________________________________________
It ain't what you make, it's what you don't spend
Edited 3/24/2007 9:39 am by Heck
I bought that with a brad nailer as a kit. I leave it on the job and keep hoping somebody will take both.
Thanks.
So I should put mine back in the box and run back up to JLC quickly?[email protected]
I think so.
wwaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
But wait.
Someone else said that thiers work s just fine for the finish nailer.
If it doesn't I'm ok with it.
If I need to run in the house to put on that missing/damaged peice of cab moulding, I'll reach for the Senco.
Seems like it should work fine for cabinet work also. Just brads or pins.[email protected]
I think you will be happier with one a little bigger. Even shooting brads mine runs too often and too long. I am one of those dum guys that never returns anything.
I guess we are who they sell it to.
I really didn't need it, but I thought it would fit a need and I needed to buy something before I left JLC.[email protected]
I have that same compressor and love it for trim punch out and in my shop at home. For running bigger guns I pull out the Emglo. The senco ran my 23ga Grex pinner just fine all day putting up cabinet crown, toekick, back on an island, and scribe. The only thing I've found it won't do is blow up balloons. I tried for a party once and thought it would explode. But for running trim guns, I love it.
John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
Thanks, I think I'll be fine for what I intend to use it for.[email protected]
I bought the small husky from HD that has no visible tank on the outside. It's completely enclosed in plastic. It probably weights 30 lbs.
That will sink 15ga nails from my hitachi with no problem. It also has 2 wheels on the back like a small suit case. I love this thing.
Headstrong, I'll take on anyone!
I bought the little Thomas. The beauty is it is rated for continuous run, and can handle a framing nailer when needed for small jobs.
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