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

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.

I am disappoint on investing in this product. It stopped working a few days ago and it was purchased 23 months ago barely used throughout the months). Another issue that bugged me, was its claim on noise level, while it was quieter than most, its noise level fluctuated quite a bit. In the first few months it maintained its quite level, than it soared to higher DBs and could barely handle being used with two guns. If you do decide to continue on with this product, do purchase an extended warranty, otherwise it is not worth the EFFORT.

I was looking for a quiet compressor. I have been using a porter cable pancake unit. When that thing comes on babies cry and ear drums bleed. I was tired of the noise. The entire reason in purchased this unit was it clam to be quiet. I am shocked. Totally shocked. The noise from this is minimal. It is far from ear piercing. I would classify this as quiet. It is not hype and it lives up to its marketing. I also upgraded to the aluminum tanks. I am glad I did. I would imagine the steel tanks would add weight and take my joy of use away. Spend the extra money on aluminum. Overall—I am thrilled with my purchase. Time will tell how it holds up. Very happy.

Quiet but it does have to run near constant to keep up. On the plus side it fills very quickly.

As advertised. This thing is QUIET! I cant hear it very much when Im far away. It does the the job but I do wish it came with universal valves. I had to swap them out for my own. If you need this for light use at home itll do the job but my use was a bit too much. I constantly found myself waiting for more pressure to build up and the motor was a bit too weak. Maybe I shouldve gotten a bigger/more powerful one. Aluminum body does wonders though

This compressor is so quiet it won’t even start. I have repeatedly contacted the manufacturer and they reply with repair videos. I bought this expensive compressor to have compressed air on demand. What I received was a part time job trying to get this thing to operate. The last time I contacted them they failed to respond. I have a cheap (20 year old) compressor that has never failed. It is louder, but I can rely on it to operate. I cannot take my California Air compressor to a job site, because I cannot rely on it to work. Very sad. Very expensive. Look for an alternative before you spend your hard earned money with this company.

It’s quiet, lightweight, and meets all of my needs in my home garage / workshop environment where I use it frequently. I have it on a custom-made stand with a 3/8” 100ft retractable air reel mounted underneath it. The hose reel connects into one of the compressor air outputs – and I have a coiled air compressor hose connected into the second output for quickly grabbing and using air around my adjacent work benches. (See Compressor Set-Up pic). I had no hesitation buying this 4610AC as a direct replacement for my original 4610A. It’s marginally more expensive to buy the “A” (Aluminum air tanks) than the “S” (Steel air tanks) but the weight difference makes it more than worthwhile to do so. I will use the frame and air tanks from my original 4610A to add a further 4.6 gallons of air capacity to my set-up as and when needed. I attach a couple of pics showing how this arrangement can work. Those additional bare air tanks can be used in several additive and optional ways in future when a larger reserve air volume is needed. The two bare tanks can even be charged and then easily transported indoors for the odd occasion when I just need a small volume of air to blow something out in the house. Highly recommend this compressor – you shouldn’t be disappointed!

The quietest compressor I have ever used or heard. It is very quick to fill the tanks. Very happy with my purchase. I would highly recommend this to anyone.

We are extremely pleased with this purchase. It is so quiet that we can hear each other talk when the compressor is running, unlike our previous one. We highly recommend it.

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.