California Air Tools - Model 2010A Ultra Quiet, Oil Free Compressor (Rating: 4)

For those that have never experienced an ultra-quiet compressor, it's really hard to overstate how much quieter they are than your average machine. The California Air Tools 2010A I have sounds like an average dishwasher from about 5-8 feet away. In other words, you know it's on but it does not overwhelm you with noise.

Other compressors I have used (Porter Cable pancake, Harbor Freight pancake & a larger HF wheeled model) are so insanely loud by comparison that I would never, ever voluntarily use one without hearing protection. Now that I've experienced the CAT compressor, I would never use one period.

CAT claims 60dB for the 2010A. I don't have an SPL meter handy, but that sounds about right to me. I wanted something small and relatively light, and the 2010A fits that bill as well. I have only used it with an air nozzle, a tire inflator, and a brad nailer so far, but it has done all three with no issues of any kind. Doing its work quietly and without problems? That's something every compressor should strive for. Sadly, we have allowed incredibly loud pancake compressors to become the norm.

California Air Tools can clearly make a top quality product. However, their packing job in the box left something to be desired. I ordered the compressor from Amazon and it arrived on a Thursday via UPS looking like the package in the beginning of Ace Ventura. See the pictures above. I had no interest in taking chances with a compressor that could have a hairline crack in the tank and might explode.

I didn't even open the box, just got in touch with Amazon and asked for a replacement. After I politely but firmly asked for it, they agreed to send the replacement in advance of receipt of the returned compressor. The replacement was delivered via USPS on Saturday (2 days later). The replacement had a similarly-flimsy packing job, but Amazon had placed it into a second box with some air pouches, so it arrived in much better shape.

I'm giving CAT five stars for the product, which is truly excellent, but taking a star away for an incredibly poor job packing their (relatively expensive) compressors into flimsy boxes with no packing material to speak of. Amazon's customer service remains excellent, and saved the day. The compressor is easily worth its $260 price tag.