It all started with a loose piece of trim that bordered the edge between the hardwood floor in the dining room and the carpet in the living room. At some point, the small nail or brad holding it down had worked its way through or out of the trim. It was sticking up slightly.
One dark winter morning, my wife was struggling to get to work on time when the unthinkable happened. She tripped on the loose trim and fell down.
What followed was a string of obscenities so colorful and vulgar that the entirety of the U.S. Navy would have been proud. After loudly telling me that I needed to fix the piece of trim, she left for work.
As I looked around our home, I noticed several other pieces of moulding, trim, and baseboards that could use some tuning up.
I have never been the kind of guy to work on small, intricate jobs like finish carpentry, so I decided to get the right tools for the job to increase my chances of success.
To nail down the trim and other pieces around the house without damaging it, I needed an air compressor and a small nail gun.
After hours of research about air compressors, I finally decided on the best one to buy for my own purposes. The air compressor I decided on is the Senco PC1010 1-Horsepower Peak, ½ hp running 1-Gallon Compressor.
I like this compressor so much, I felt compelled to write a review article about it so that I could share this great product with others. Here are some of my favorite features about the PC1010:
Materials
Just looking at pictures of the Senco PC1010, you can tell that it’s made with quality materials. The aluminum storage tank looks lightweight and strong, and has some beautiful welds joining the pieces together. All pipe fittings are brass for durability and rust resistance.
The air tubing is copper for strength and durability as well. The tube steel carrying handle is extremely strong and doubles as a protective cage for the more sensitive parts, like the gauges and regulator. The only plastic part on this compressor is the knob to adjust the air output on the regulator.
Everything on the PC1010 is made with strength and durability in mind.
Portability
When selecting a small air compressor, portability is an important consideration. The PC1010 is a very portable compressor. The dimensions of this compressor are: 14 inches long by 13 inches wide by 10 inches high.
That is a nice compact size, which makes it easier to store and move around. Another item that affects portability is weight. This compressor has a total weight of 20 pounds, which is light enough for virtually anyone to move around very easily. When it comes to portability, the Senco PC1010 has you covered.
Performance
The electric motor on the PC1010 delivers 1 horsepower at peak operation and ½ horsepower during normal running. That’s plenty of power to drive the compressor unit efficiently. When it comes to air compressor performance, storage tank capacity is an important factor.
Storage tank size determines the volume of air delivered, usually measured in cubic feet per minute, or cfm. The volume of air delivered by this compressor is about .8 cfm, which is great for inflation jobs and small air tools.
It takes this compressor only 2 minutes to pump up from 0 psi, or empty, to 120 psi. Recovery time is the time that it takes for a compressor to refill after the pressure drops and the motor kicks back on.
The recovery time for the PC1010 is 35 seconds, which is fairly quick. With all this performance, you would think that this compressor might be a little loud for inside use.
This is not the case. This compressor is much quieter than similarly sized pancake-style compressors, which makes it ideal for indoor use.
The Extras
There are several features on this compressor that make it stand out from the competition. It has soft rubber feet, so you can put it on any floor or countertop and use it without worrying that you will damage the surface. Another nice feature is the drain valve on the bottom of the storage tank.
After each use, you can drain any water that has condensed inside the tank, which keeps your tool air dry and the tank free from any water damage.
One of the best parts about this air compressor is the dual pressure gauges. One gauge shows you the pressure inside the storage tank, while the other allows you to adjust the air pressure flowing out of the regulator.
This is fantastic when you are running lower pressure air tools, because you can accurately adjust the output. The last feature I really like is the foam grip on the carrying handle. This may seem trivial, but it’s nice to have a comfortable grip to carry any tool, especially when you are covering some distance or climbing up and down ladders.
Pros:
- Lightweight, compact design makes this unit very portable
- Made with strong, durable materials
- Fast fill and recovery times
- Quiet operation makes it ideal to use anywhere
- Dual pressure gauges let you monitor internal and output pressures
- Rubber feet to protect floors and countertops
- Oil-free design for low maintenance and clean tool air
Cons:
- Does not include hoses or accessories
- Will not run large air tools
Features:
- 1 hp peak ½ hp operating electric motor, 4 amp
- 1 gallon storage tank capacity
- Dual pressure gauges
- 125 psi maximum pressure
- Storage tank drain valve
- Lightweight, compact design
- 2 minute pump up, 35 second recovery time
- Rubber feet to protect surfaces
- Great for finish and trim work, crafts and hobbies
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Which is the best way to bleed off air from the tank after using it? Someone told me that using the tank drain will wear it out eventually.
A: In addition to the tank drain, you can release the pressure using the safety valve on top of the tank.
Q: What is the maximum pressure on the Senco 1010 compressor?
A: This air compressor has a maximum pressure of 125 pounds per square inch.
Q: Is this compressor good for airing up vehicle tires and inflating bicycle tires? I’m looking for something small and quiet that will work for this.
A: The Senco 1010 should work just fine for pumping up bike and car tires.
Q: Does the compressor come with an accessory kit or do I have to buy it separately?
A: No accessories are included with this compressor. You must buy an accessory kit separately.
Q: How well would this compressor work with a hardwood floor stapler? I’m a homeowner, and would only use it for this to complete one room.
A: That depends on the stapler. Always compare the air demand for the tool in cubic feet per minute with the abilities of the compressor to see if it will work.
Final Verdict
If you are looking for a lightweight, portable air compressor I highly recommend the Senco PC1010 1-Gallon Compressor. It can handle any inflation, light nailing or stapling, airbrushing, or crafts and hobbies jobs reliably and well.
Extra features like the storage tank drain and the dual pressure gauges make this compressor the best in its class. And as for the price, look it up online and I think you’ll be surprised. The Senco PC1010 is a nice value for your money.
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