California Air Tools CAT-4610S Ultra Quiet & Oil-Free 1.0 hp 4.6 gallon Steel Twin Tank Electric Portable Air Compressor, Silver

Shockingly quiet, I can run it with the kids napping 2 rooms away. Plenty of air for my needs (drawbar on a cnc mill, and a coolant system). Very compact as well.

Bought this to power an airbrush and brad nailer. It is very quiet and easy to operate. Im very happy with this purchase.

Before getting to the bad I will say this compressor is amazingly quiet. The only compressors I have ever seen that are as quiet or quieter are oiled and at least a $1,000. It also seems to fill much quicker than any of the small oil-less compressors I have owned in the past, not that I am an expert on compressors, just old. I just opened the box today so I have no longevity information. However, the check valve was defective. It leaked but I could not tighten it further without potentially breaking a copper tube connected to it. It leaks around 10lbs per minute as far as I can tell which means it turns on every three minutes or so when not in use. I called California Air Tools. The person that answered the phone was friendly and knowledgeable, no handoffs to someone who knows the answer. He quickly agreed the check valve was defective and told me to go to the website and fill out a form to get a replacement check valve sent. Three things struck me. First, it did not seem to be a new thing for California Air Tools. According to the documentation, each unit is checked before being sent out. I dont think mine was checked - at least for air retention, as there was an easily heard hiss. The customer service reps reply had me thinking this was something he has dealt with more than once. It has me wondering if the claim that each compressor is checked is false. Sometimes things slide through the cracks and mistakes are made. That might be the case with my compressor. My wondering is not rhetorical. Second, most of the time when a new item is defective I am offered a replacement. I would have tried replacing the check valve anyway if offered a replacement (and almost did anyway). A company like that, in my experience, will take care of me if the fix does not work out. My experience with companies that try to get me to fix the problem rather than offer to replace the item first are often less pleasant. They may string me along and never get to replacing or fully fixing the item. California Air Tools did not offer to replace it. Perhaps that is because I purchased from Amazon and that is an option I have with Amazon. Perhaps they would have taken care of me in the end if the new check valve did not work out and Amazon did not take care of me. I would have had no issues with trying to fix it if the offer of a new compressor was on the table. It was defective. Third, I asked for the part online but have not heard back yet as to when it will ship, if they will replace the item and even if they got my request from their website even though their website said it went through. If I needed the compressor every day I would find this unacceptable. I would want the part shipped ASAP. California Air Tools seems a little too relaxed about an issue like this on a new tool. It is the same day I requested the part so perhaps I am out of line. However, a similar thing happened with another company. They had a replacement part packaged before I got off the phone. It was here the next day. In this case, I was shuttled off to the website and I have no idea if I will even get the part or when. All I could do was fill out a request. A compressor is pretty critical for some. My experience does not lead me to think California Air Tools realizes that. It may be that the stars simply did not align in this one case. I dont find what I write here particularly compelling by itself. It is only a data point and if others complain similarly then perhaps it is meaningful. If not then probably not. I will emphasize that outside of the air leak I sure like this compressor albeit with limited experience. I decided to send the compressor back to Amazon and get another one. However, Amazon will take at least a week to get me a replacement (that is irritating itself as they shipped it overnight even though a week after ordering it and after it was promised. Said it was in stock though). Not sure why they cannot send the replacement two-day air or overnight - says it is in stock and prime eligible and anymore all items I get are two-day air or faster although shipped well after ordered even though I am a prime member (I live in Alaska, which seems to matter). It brings up an Amazon problem I have had before. I would prefer to try to fix the item rather than have them pay to ship it back and have a new one shipped. They would then have to ship it to California Air Tools. Seems like a waste. I cannot seem to get an answer that tells me that it is OK to try to fix it and then send it back if it does not work. I also dont get answers that tell me it is not OK. Seems like it is but what I get back is vague enough that I am not certain. I also asked for more time in order to evaluate the compressor after a new check valve was sent. No Deal. Allowing me extra time to fix it and see if it works doesnt seem out of line. I get it, in a way. I am not a pro and my attempt to fix could harm the item. That said it has happened with other items that simply have a broken part that is easily replaced (an air hose on a sprayer that is regularly removed, for example - in that case, the manufacturer offered to send me a hose overnight - we compromised with 2-day air - Amazon would not send a replacement part they stocked preferring I ship the entire HVLP sprayer back). Replacing the check valve is pretty simple and seems like a cheaper, better option all the way around. I would also have a compressor, albeit one I have to turn on and off to keep it from running every three minutes. I prefer the onus be on Amazon, however. I am not sure if California Air Tools will take care of me and their response is underwhelming. Amazons options seem less than appealing. I decided to send the compressor back without a replacement rather than deal with the uncertainty. I am not sure if I will get a California Air Tools compressor. I certainly am going to research other quiet compressors first because this one sure is nice for that.

Hold on now, my experience echoes another reviewer: using to inflate tires sound changed and air pouring off broken stainless connector on plastic hose. I checked the hose and the 2nd fitting broke off the same way: mid-thread. Tried removing, but no luck- I had to retap both sides replacing plastic with 1/4 soft copper. My guess is the fittings machine torqued to be the point of failure - a really terrible quality issue 100% avoidable. I didnt even bother to call the manu. since sending it back didnt make sense. Price now is +100 more than what I paid. Was: ultra quiet and fills very quickly. So much better than a single-piston it replaced. AVOID until manufacturer gets their act together.

Lighter weight than my rolair compressor. I had it placed by a home air conditioning unit and when i stood between the two the ac unit was louder. Hopefully this will last as long as my rolair as this will be used three days a week all day long.

I first purchased the Bostitch because it came with everything and it was cheap. That thing was loud. This CAT model is quiet compared to the Bostitch. Im glad I made the switch. Now I can get some work done in the garage while the kids are sleeping upstairs.

I love how quite this compressor is

We are using this at work(indoor). And could not be happier with the performance and low noise level. Strongly recommend.

I own a Lemon shake up stand this air compressor is the hart of it . It goes down we are out for the day so far so good. It suit off one time then I released it has got to plug in direct no extinction cords

This is my third CA tools air compressor and it is so quiet I can not understand how I lived with my old noisy compressor for so long. I used to have to wear ear protection using my old compressor and eventually gave it away to my neighbor. Now I know when he fills his tires - the whole neighborhood knows. All three CA tools compressors work great - no problems yet. The low noise is truly worth the upgrade. I wont buy any other brand.