Replies

1. 
   foobytor | Jul 08, 2003 04:08am | #1

   Its not a toy.

   The compressor is virtually weightless and is extremely quiet.  The supplied gun will shoot a 2" brad.

   I use the combination and  the senco 23 guage pin gun daily in my interior finish business.

1. 
   TXJon | Jul 08, 2003 05:17am | #2

   So it's a good buy?  I had heard not so good things about the Porter Cable combo kits, but nothing bad about Senco.

   I am not a professional, more like a hard core remodeller (my house), woodworker, and occaisionally a paid cabinet maker.  The tool would not get daily use, but I do need more than a toy.

   Jon

1. 
   watkinsjd | Jul 08, 2003 05:37am | #3

   If you are looking for a system that won't be subject to a lot of demand for air; i.e. shooting a lot of brads in a short period of time, this could be a great deal for you. However, it's utility is pretty much limited.

   Concerns: It doesn't have enough air storage or recovery to do much else.  Pull the pressure relief valve after it fills and the tank is empty in a second or two.  You couldn't blow the dust off a workbench with it. If you were running a framing nailer at a good pace you would probably overwork the compressor.

   If you ever want to do more than operate this unit with the gun that comes with it, and that at a leisurely pace, you should probably look at something else. There are many things you can do with an inexpensive compressor but not this one.

2. 
   forestgirl | Jul 08, 2003 08:56am | #4

   Neither one of the compressors you mention (Senco or PC pancake) is meant for real heavy workloads.  As far as $199 being a "good deal" that depends, IMO, on whether you'll be happy with it 6 months down the road.  I suspect that the reason you hear more complaints about the Porter Cable outfit is because far, far more people have bought that one than the Senco, and therefore more people try to use it for things it wasn't intended to do.  That compressor isn't rated to run more than 30 minutes out of the hour, if I remember correctly.

   Looking at the two side-by-side on Amazon, it's pretty obvious you get way more for your money buying the PC outfit.  The air capacity on the Senco is teeny tiny!  The horsepower (granting that HP numbers are "weak" data, but still...) is 1/2 for the Senco and 2 for the Porter Cable.

   I have the PC 18ga kit and though I've not used it daily, I've been happy with it, and I know I can add a finish nailer, stapler, etc. to it.  I got the PC at Costco for $179, but it's usually $199 at the big box stores.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)