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California Air Tools Ultra Quiet Compressor CAT-10020

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mango_420

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Joined
Oct 21, 2011
Messages
50
Hi everyone.

Been a long time lurker and my level of experience is every other weekend warrior.

Typically I come here to look at deals to buy things I don't need....

So in wanting to replace a Bostitch 8 Gal Pancake Compressor - somehow California Air Tools came up. Had to replace that loud compressor, great starter but it was time to move on.

Decided to get a CAT-10020 model and just about everyone had them for $400 and up.

Then came a Google shopping hit of ATG.com by Lowes.

Whamoo S269.99! Even free shipping for a 98 lbs 10 Gal compressor. After many positive reviews I pulled the trigger.

Before placing order online- retailmenot.com showed a black friday 20% off anything coupon. It was well past black friday and decided to try it on normal check out. No go. Tried chatting with a rep, said it wouldn't apply online but I could place an over the phone order.

After about ten minutes with an operator- we got it down to $215.99, free shipping with tax it was $230 shipped to Owatonna MN.

Sold the Bostitch on a Facebook buy and sell site for $80.

Great compressor for my needs, 2 HP max and it is quiet.


Good luck boys.

My contribution to your addiction.

Just checked right now and it'd still $269.99


6313a2da13bbba7488e2ec0cccca7d87.jpg
 
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fury9

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Joined
Mar 4, 2012
Messages
1,277
Location
Mchenry, IlLaHnoYs
BAH! I literally have the makita mac2400 coming today sometime, quietness was a big factor considering I have to listen to these things all day at work on the jobsite, wish I would have heard about these sooner so I coulda checked them out, Thanks for the post though
 
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CNGsaves

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Joined
Sep 26, 2012
Messages
13,233
Location
KS and OK
OP . . . You did well on that purchase of California Air compressor. I ran across one on CL while back and should have pulled the trigger. They are very quiet and reliable oil-less compressor a quadrillion times better than pancake compressor. Handy to haul around doing projects requiring brad nailers.

Except for belt-driven oil splash compressor, your compressor is great solution as it's more mobile than oil-splash.

Website looks like "Cyber Monday 20% coupon" still showing up:
ATGCM20
. . . but couldn't see how you could apply the promo code. In any event, they do list phone number for customer service of 1-888-500-9541.

Good info OP. I'll have to skip as have too many compressors already !! ;)
 
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sns1938

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Joined
Nov 1, 2014
Messages
290
Anyone else managed to get the 20% off the sale price deal? I'm about to get a compressor in the next few months, but would jump early to get a higher quality and quiet one like this (compared to the Kobalt or HF options I was probably going to go with).
 
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boobag

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Joined
Aug 15, 2010
Messages
397
wow, how do they make it so quiet?
is it still a piston style design?

 
OP
M

mango_420

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Joined
Oct 21, 2011
Messages
50
Kaane said:
Just picked it up. 70db is just awesome! Great deal!
Click to expand...
It was a tough decision to go with the 60db- 1hp or the one I ended up with, the 70db 2hp.

Figured the larger 2hp was still going to be quieter than the Bostitch pancake. . The looked at a db chart and numerically 10db in that sound range isn't that much more..


So I went with the Tim Allen and went bigger - as big as I could for the space the pancake used to be..
 
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olytdi

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Joined
Dec 3, 2011
Messages
2,202
Location
Olympia, Washington
Thanks OP -- you just cost me $240 and we've never even met!

My pancake started leaking and making death noises two nights ago so this is timely.

Thanks! Looks like a nice compressor.
 
OP
M

mango_420

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 21, 2011
Messages
50
olytdi said:
Thanks OP -- you just cost me $240 and we've never even met!

My pancake started leaking and making death noises two nights ago so this is timely.

Thanks! Looks like a nice compressor.
Click to expand...
Ha. Your welcome?

Forgot to mention on original post. According to amazon and a few other sites... The 2014 has a low electrcial draw - so when ordering from ATG- I thought maybe they were older ones.

But mine drop shipped from California Air Tools.. so looks like it's the new style. Got mine finally hooked up to a cheap surge protector that's also on a beer dorm fridge and it never tripped it.

Just FYI
 
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0piston

Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2012
Messages
10
thanks I bought one too, the facebook page had a 20% coupon that you had to like so I did that.
 
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Jeff95TA

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Joined
Aug 11, 2008
Messages
886
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
I have the 4610-A and love it. It has a dual piston pump so it runs at a slower speed. Way quieter than comparable compressors in that size/category.
 
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SweetD

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Feb 8, 2010
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Location
Rhode Island
I bought one. Sick of my little pancake compressor and the noise. I hope this one was worth it, seems like a great deal!

FWIW, I looked at a TON of reviews on this unit today online, and saw nothing to indicate any danger as posted above. Couple of reviews mentioned tripping a breaker on start-up on a 15A circuit, but that could easily be unrelated to the compressor. Looking forward to trying it out and will report back.

:beer: Dave
 
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ishiboo

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Oct 27, 2010
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Location
Oshkosh, WI

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mango_420

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 21, 2011
Messages
50
Ha! My only child danger was silica gel packet ripped and it was everywhere. I was always afraid of that **** since childhood. The labeling always made it seem like it was worse than rat poison.

I think some got in the cylinder before putting in the mufflers.

But after a slight noise the rattle went away.

So it was either pulverized inside the cylinder or it rolled off the top from vibrations.

Time will tell.
 
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risc

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Joined
Dec 21, 2012
Messages
220
The SANTA15 coupon claims to expire today so I went for it. The quite and 120sec fill will be perfect for what I need: mounting motorcycle tires, filling tires, occasional impact gun use.
 
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theoldwizard1

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Feb 22, 2011
Messages
43,106
Location
SE MI
SweetD said:
Couple of reviews mentioned tripping a breaker on start-up on a 15A circuit, but that could easily be unrelated to the compressor.
Click to expand...
A few months back a GJ was trying to run his CAT compressor off of a 50' 16 gauge cord ! It would start the first time, but not after that until it was stone cold !
 
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boobag

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Aug 15, 2010
Messages
397
theoldwizard1 said:
A few months back a GJ was trying to run his CAT compressor off of a 50' 16 gauge cord ! It would start the first time, but not after that until it was stone cold !
Click to expand...

16ga? was he trying to blame the compressor also?
 
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SweetD

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Feb 8, 2010
Messages
3,264
Location
Rhode Island
I received my compressor today. Passed my inspection and was easy to set up. Filled the tank right up just as promised, no problems so far. The one thing that is killing me is that it has that awful "shipped from China" off-gassing smell in my garage. Not mixing well with the beers, but it'll fade I'm sure.

Have to say, the compressor is a HUGE step up in quietness from my P-C pancake model!

Dave
 
4

404

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Aug 23, 2014
Messages
3,463
Location
Mass
boobag said:
wow, how do they make it so quiet?
is it still a piston style design?

Click to expand...

See now you can tell that video was done in the Northern Hemisphere because the loud red compressor rotates counter clockwise. :beer:
 
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Mech33

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Joined
Feb 16, 2014
Messages
141
I run one of these compressors for my simple shop air system (mainly just used for a lift, blower, and tire pumping). It's the 2.0 hp model to give a bit over 4 scfm continuously for faster refill. It's not obnoxiously loud, but it does still startle me when it turns on.

california%20air%20tools%20compressor.jpg
 
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cagullett1

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Sep 29, 2013
Messages
2,203
Location
North Texas
Mech33 said:
I run one of these compressors for my simple shop air system (mainly just used for a lift, blower, and tire pumping). It's the 2.0 hp model to give a bit over 4 scfm continuously for faster refill. It's not obnoxiously loud, but it does still startle me when it turns on.

california%20air%20tools%20compressor.jpg
Click to expand...

clever spot to install it. I have put several different things in the upper corners of my garage and haven't liked what I put up there every time. My 2 small Makita MAC700's would fit up there nicely.
 
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ishiboo

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Oct 27, 2010
Messages
9,481
Location
Oshkosh, WI
The problem with wall-mounting a compressor is it easily vibrates the wall, which is much lower mass than concrete.

If noise bothers you, pour a small pad outside, put a tiny shed around it and an auto drain. You won't hear a thing and it's 100% out of the way
 
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theoldwizard1

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Feb 22, 2011
Messages
43,106
Location
SE MI
Mech33, look good !

I would have at least one through bolt, "just in case" !

How is the shelf attached to the walls ? (I don't see any bracing.)
 
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