Picked up a California Air Tools compressor from Menards - Model 5510SE - on sale for $139.00! I believe this is the only model they are currently carrying and the add said "limited time" (whatever that's worth). Compare on Amazon for $204. Doggone cute and quiet. It won't replace my big compressor in the shop, but will replace the smaller compressor in my basement. Very portable too.
California Air Tools compressor at Menards - CHEAP!
- Thread starter 408sbc
- Start date
PCMusicGuy
Well-known member
I want one at that price. Home Depot down here wouldn't price match nor would Amazon.
beamrider
Well-known member
Anyone have a link, or SKU? Nothing showing on the website for me.....
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
5.5 Gallon is kinda small. Is that really a good deal? I've got a crappy 5 Gallon right now that I've been wanting to replace. I wonder how much better the motor / pump is on this one.
In watching some other videos it seems like this thing is pretty quiet... And it has a working shut off which my current compressor does not. The CFM is super low though. My craptastic one claims 5CFM @ 90 PSI. I don't know if it can actually do that but it claims it.
At the least this California Air Tools lacks ambition.
In watching some other videos it seems like this thing is pretty quiet... And it has a working shut off which my current compressor does not. The CFM is super low though. My craptastic one claims 5CFM @ 90 PSI. I don't know if it can actually do that but it claims it.
At the least this California Air Tools lacks ambition.
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Super Sport
Well-known member
There's a lot of good info on these in the thread regarding the home depot deal. Their main goal is quietness, which is why they don't have the greatest cfm.5.5 Gallon is kinda small. Is that really a good deal? I've got a crappy 5 Gallon right now that I've been wanting to replace. I wonder how much better the motor / pump is on this one.
In watching some other videos it seems like this thing is pretty quiet... And it has a working shut off which my current compressor does not. The CFM is super low though. My craptastic one claims 5CFM @ 90 PSI. I don't know if it can actually do that but it claims it.
KristianS
Well-known member
Man I wish Amazon would match that price.
This is the compressor I've got now...
I'd have to think it's just no where near meeting its "spec" and probably comparable to the California Air Tools. I've watched a few videos and there aren't that many of the CAT compressors but the few I saw the low noise was verrrrry interesting.
I'd have to think it's just no where near meeting its "spec" and probably comparable to the California Air Tools. I've watched a few videos and there aren't that many of the CAT compressors but the few I saw the low noise was verrrrry interesting.
joshgn
Well-known member
I have one of these...its amazingly quiet!
I've showed it to several friends and they just stood there in dis-believe...ha...
I've showed it to several friends and they just stood there in dis-believe...ha...
Super Sport
Well-known member
I just bought the 6.3g model and have only run it once so far, but it seems you could stand right next to it and have a conversation with somebody at a normal talking volume. It's not silent, but it's far quieter than my little Craftsman 7g that it'll be replacing.
Voi
Well-known member
My local Menards had one of these on the shelf so I bought it. Haven't had a chance to unbox it yet but am curious to hear this thing run.
[EDIT] Just unboxed and fired it up. It's quiet and seemed to fill up quick, although that might just be a perception due it not be as annoying to listen to as my 6 gallon pancake compressor. With the handle on the back I find it easier to pick up and carry around compared to my pancake. And it has the wheels.
3.1/2.2 CFM at 40/90 PSI respectively compared to 3.7/2.8 on my pancake. I think the greater portability and lower decibels will make it worth keeping.
[EDIT] Just unboxed and fired it up. It's quiet and seemed to fill up quick, although that might just be a perception due it not be as annoying to listen to as my 6 gallon pancake compressor. With the handle on the back I find it easier to pick up and carry around compared to my pancake. And it has the wheels.
3.1/2.2 CFM at 40/90 PSI respectively compared to 3.7/2.8 on my pancake. I think the greater portability and lower decibels will make it worth keeping.
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reader2580
Well-known member
If I search for that SKU on Menards.com it doesn't even come up at all for some reason.
beamrider
Well-known member
I tried that route initially as well, with no luck. Maybe "mega sale" items aren't entered into the SKU system?
allinon72
Well-known member
Would it be worth it to replace a classic Porter Cable pancake?
vartz04
Well-known member
ishiboo
Well-known member
There is no "See It" in the ad, so it's a special and won't appear on the website. Not exactly sure why they do that.
Super Sport
Well-known member
Menards has been known for buying limited quantities of items from closeouts/liquidations. I'm guessing that that is how they got a hold of these, and since they're such limited in quantity they didn't bother to put a page up on the site.
purplezr2
Well-known member
This, when I worked in college, there was all kinds of this stuff that would shop up in a pallet or two.
To those that mention the size, I have a small oil bathed Makita, I love it. Enough to run small tools and use around the house.
reader2580
Well-known member
It is pretty strange that a SKU wouldn't be on the Menards website. Menards has pretty much everything on their website. They have basically all of their special order stuff online now.
I wasn't going to buy one for myself, but I wanted to see if the specs might be good enough to replace my father's dead compressor if he can't get it fixed.
I wasn't going to buy one for myself, but I wanted to see if the specs might be good enough to replace my father's dead compressor if he can't get it fixed.
For anyone still on the fence about this thing, I made a non-short video going through some basic stats on it, doing a charging time test, doing a sound level test and generally reviewing it.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1zkkLSiBv4E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
If you want to just see the sound comparison skip ahead to 5:56. It's pretty substantial. Also I think my presentation might offer a little bit over some of the other videos giving an example of the sound level. I had a bit of fun editing this one.
In short though I'm pretty happy with the thing and if you don't absolutely need high CFMs or a huge tank this seems like a pretty good buy. I could see down the road trying to upgrade to the CAT10020 since I really like this one.
Also if you are on the fence, tomorrows the last day of the sale so get on it! Not that it's a huge difference from Home Depot's price but it's nice to just go in and grab one and not wait for shipping / worry about the damage.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1zkkLSiBv4E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
If you want to just see the sound comparison skip ahead to 5:56. It's pretty substantial. Also I think my presentation might offer a little bit over some of the other videos giving an example of the sound level. I had a bit of fun editing this one.
In short though I'm pretty happy with the thing and if you don't absolutely need high CFMs or a huge tank this seems like a pretty good buy. I could see down the road trying to upgrade to the CAT10020 since I really like this one.
Also if you are on the fence, tomorrows the last day of the sale so get on it! Not that it's a huge difference from Home Depot's price but it's nice to just go in and grab one and not wait for shipping / worry about the damage.
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Thanks to the OP for posting this deal. I finally caved in on the last day of the sale (12/24) and bought one over the phone since I live nearly an hour away. I was able to make it over there tonight (12/26) to pick it up and found out I'm eligible to get the 11 percent rebate they are now offering on purchases throughout the store. So I got the sale price of $139 and I will also get back a rebate of about $15 to use in the store at a later date.
FYI, they still had some in stock, but the price is now $179.
Thanks, Mike
FYI, they still had some in stock, but the price is now $179.
Thanks, Mike
Wow sweet deal. Did you get to fire it up yet? What did you think? Also welcome to the GJ!
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Not that anyone should need "parts" for a new compressor, but besides the motor-pump assembly and the tank, all of the pother parts are "generic" Chinese. That means, replacements from eBay are incredibly inexpensive !
Another thing I like about CAT compressors is the use a 3/8" braided stainless hose from the outlet of the pump to check valve/tank inlet. Very little pressure drop there !
Thanks for the heads up! I updated the video description. I'm gonna try to keep the descriptions up to date with deals. I'm sure it will become unmanageable some day but it's not now!
Hi firworks,
Thanks for the welcome!
Haven't even had a chance to open the box yet! LOL Still really busy with family holiday stuff around here, but I should get to try it out in the next few days.
Mike