Announcement: Review of California air ultra quiet air compressor

[Barry Lee Hands]

I have had two, for about a year. After a while one started making noise and then broke, now I am on the second.
They are not as quiet as the silaire.

 

[Donny]

Air turbines consume a lot more air than pneumatic handpieces. If you use the Presto for extended periods you really need a compressor that'll keep up without the thermal overload kicking in. I only use mine with my Sil-Air compressor for a few minutes at a time.

I only use it remove backgrounds and to remove some smaller sections when sculpting..... which Sil-Air do you run? Is the TC-50 a viable option?

Donny

 

[Jane]

Has anyone else purchased this compressor and what are your thoughts? Would it run a Lindsey PC Classic?
Thanks!

 

[davidshe]

Jane, I also have a TC-50 and it works perfectly with a PC and is very quiet. But, once I started using a Presto for background removal is was working too hard and getting very hot. I recently purchased a California Air Compressor Model # 4610A and it works much better with the Presto. So, I just use it for everything now and will save my little TC-50 for portable purposes in the future. I will say that the Cal Air is not as quiet but the noise level is still very acceptable and much, much quieter than a standard compressor. Hope that helps!

 

[bdext002]

I was just about to click the "Purchase" button on a Silentaire Super-Silent 20A, when I figured I'd check the cafe to see if there are any reviews! This happened to be at the top! The Super-Silent sounds comparable to a refrigerator when it's running. I know the California isn't that quiet. What I'm worried about is being able to use a GraverMach for hours at a time and not overheating either. The 20A is only 80psi max. The CAT-1610A is 120psi max. Does anyone have the 20A or know if it is able to run a GraverMach for hours at a time? (My apartment has thin walls, so the quieter, the better) Thanks!

 

[Jane]

thank you for the reply...that is helpful!

 

[dlilazteca]

Jane

I use it every weekend as I am only a weekender but I'm getting better I find myself using it more frequency even during the week. It will never be as quiet as a silentair but for the price its still very usable check out my videos I have another where I'm using it and I'm talking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBmy6ps7ceE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Carlos De La O III

 

[Jane]

Thanks for the info. That compressor sounds pretty quiet!

 

[Dulltool]

I've been using the California/GMC compressor for over a year now and have been using a Gravermach with a magnum hand piece. I've been engraving nothing but firearms five six days a week. The model I have has two stacked steel tanks...If I had to do it over again I would buy the aluminum twin tank model ( rusty water when draining).

 

[Jane]

Here is the aluminum model......not a bad price and free shipping!
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Californ...H=REC-_-product-2-_-202977401-_-202977403-_-N

 

[bildio]

I was just about to click the "Purchase" button on a Silentaire Super-Silent 20A, when I figured I'd check the cafe to see if there are any reviews! This happened to be at the top! The Super-Silent sounds comparable to a refrigerator when it's running. I know the California isn't that quiet. What I'm worried about is being able to use a GraverMach for hours at a time and not overheating either. The 20A is only 80psi max. The CAT-1610A is 120psi max. Does anyone have the 20A or know if it is able to run a GraverMach for hours at a time? (My apartment has thin walls, so the quieter, the better) Thanks!

I have a Super Silent 20A. Its spec is "0.7 cfm & 55-85 psi". It works very well with my Lindsay PC. The GraverMach AT spec is "minimum 45 psi & 1.4 cfm". So, the 20A won't handle a GraveMach AT. I don't have the spec for the GraverMach.

 

[Donny]

I thought I had replied to this thread but I guess I never got back to it...So I bought the California 6310 Ultra Quiet !!!! It is perfect! I am currently living in a studio apartment for the year up here in Seattle. This thing is quiet enough for the apartment and it only cycles every so often because my hand piece uses so little.

Great Buy!

Donny

 

[dlilazteca]

I thought I had replied to this thread but I guess I never got back to it...So I bought the California 6310 Ultra Quiet !!!! It is perfect! I am currently living in a studio apartment for the year up here in Seattle. This thing is quiet enough for the apartment and it only cycles every so often because my hand piece uses so little.

Great Buy!

Donny

Glad it all worked out for you, I'll be in Tacoma this summer, it's to wet this time of year

Carlos De La O III

 

[Donny]

My real home is in Phoenix!!! I'm just on a one year detail with the Government. This place bites!!! been here 2 1/2 months seen the sun 5 times. No lie! Watched a guy washing his car at a car wash..it was raining...and he was still washing his car?? I know my mouth was hanging open....

Donny

 

[dlilazteca]

Ha, I know I've been that guy, was there 8 years, some of those were active duty.

It's funny you see people protect themselves from the rain, there no one seems to care, everyone just walks, don't even get me started when it comes to outdoor bbq's.

Just wait until you get the the months of summer, women are out in force, if your single don't worry their there just hibernating

Carlos De La O III

 

[Jane]

Donny, what kind of engraving set up are you using with the compressor?

 

[Donny]

Jane,
I have a Lindsay Classic handpiece, getting a NSK Presto to have for removing larger background areas thats why I went with a compressor. Back in Phoenix I just used a 20LB CO2 tank.

Donny

 

[Donny]

Ha, I know I've been that guy, was there 8 years, some of those were active duty.

It's funny you see people protect themselves from the rain, there no one seems to care, everyone just walks, don't even get me started when it comes to outdoor bbq's.

Just wait until you get the the months of summer, women are out in force, if your single don't worry their there just hibernating

Carlos De La O III

Ha!! Married 26 years with many more to come hopefully.....besides she too knows how to use all those guns and knives at the house

Donny

 

[krisf]

I bought the single tank last year and it ran alot, had the opportunity to swap it out for the dual tank. Running a gravermach G8 and the dual tank is a dream, only after about 3 hours of cutting do i notice it getting warm, i use the heat as a timer to get up and stretch for a hour so i wont need my chiropractor the next day. i set it on a heavy rubber floor mat and keep it right next to my bench. noise isnt a issue at all, great machine.