We may bring in revenue from the products useable on this page and enter in affiliate program . hear More ›
Air compressor are important time and project savers , but if you ’ve ever been near a enceinte shop compressor when it by chance cycled on , you belike jolted with a startle and maybe even mutter a choice condemnation intelligence . Traditional air compressors are notoriously loud , so I was intrigue when I recently get the opportunity to test several theoretical account marketed asquiet air compressors .
TheCalifornia Air Tools 8010was one of the models I tested , and it terminate up taking top honors — not just for its quieter operation , either . It also proved it could leave enough melodic phrase pressure to expand tire and superpower a brad nailer , a finish nail gun , and an air sirocco . As just one of the successful models California Air Tools have , the 8010 impressed me with its quiet noise level and performance .
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
California Air Tools 8010 Ultra Quiet Air Compressor: At a Glance
Rating:4.75/5
SPECS
PROS
CONS
Get the California Air Tools line compressor at :
What is the California Air Tools 8010?
Called the CAT 8010 by many , this air compressor is contrive to be effective and smooth . It has a 1.0 - horsepower motor that farm less noise than most traditional air compressors . It has an 8 - gallon brand air travel tank , delivers up to a level best of 120 PSI , and generates 2.20 CFM of tune pressure at 90 PSI , making it well - suited for light- to mid - duty use .
One of its fundamental features is an oil - free ticker , a design more producer are going with these days for reduced maintenance and clean tune output . TheCalifornia Air Tools 8010is suitable for use indoors and alfresco .
It come almost fully assembled ; I only had to confiscate the wheels and melodic phrase filter before plugging in its 6 - base power cord . Most of the compressors I prove came with standard 6 - foot cords , which are n’t long enough for many lotion , so if you need to use an extension corduroy , make certain it ’s heavy duty . The 8010 requires at least a 14 - gauge cord . If you ’re using a long cord—50 substructure or long — it would n’t hurt to go with a 12 - gauge .
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
Tool Compatibility
With a pressure sensation valuation of 2.20 CFM at 90 PSI , the CAT 8010 is best suit to powering small - standard of measurement nailer and pinner as well as building staplers , airbrush , and blower . I test it using a conclusion nail gun , an airbrush , a electric fan , and an impact wrench . It ran all but the impact wrench successfully . The impingement wrench necessitate more air insistency than the CAT 8010 was capable of delivering , but that ’s to be expected .
Before buying ahome air compressorto range a specific puppet , I suggest train the tool ’s pressure necessity . you could reduce the amount of PSI on an air compressor so it ’s not too strong for your tool , but you ca n’t increase the compressor ’s maximum PSI . The California Air Tools 8010 is a good pickaxe for running many pneumatic cock , but it may not be sufficient for present the insistency needed for higher - PSI tools .
Decibel Level
The producer lists theCAT 8010 ’s noise level during procedure at 60 dB of speech sound . For comparison , that ’s about the same sound intensity you ’d expect from casual conversation . However , when I tested the sound grade from just a few feet away with my decibel quizzer , it only produced 50.6 dB , so it was even quieter than I expected . This was a pleasant surprise since I ’ve previously work with flash zephyr compressors .
California Air Tools credits some of the quietness to the 8010 ’s downcast - rotation motor that go at just 1,680 rotations per moment . Whatever the fellowship is doing , I desire they ( and other producer ) keep doing it because until now , air compressor have been gratingly loud and unpleasant to wreak around .
Portability
The air compressor weighs 48 pounds , which is wanton enough to lift to the back of a pickup when needed , but not alight enough to dribble around for long . Fortunately , it comes with turgid wheels and a handle that leave me to lean it up and pull or push it around , wheelbarrow style . This design is handy for rolling the air compressor from room to room when working indoors or even down a gravel private road , which I also did . The wheels rolled swimmingly and equally , and the handle permit me to fee it up without exerting myself .
Compared to traditional shop class - character compressor that can count several hundred Sudanese pound , the CAT 8010 is very portable and would serve well as a reliableportable melody compressor .
Build Quality
Overall , I was impressed with the solid build quality of theCalifornia Air Tools 8010 . This is a blade tank car air compressor , and as far as I could say by inspecting the components , they seem to be durable and of in high spirits caliber .
One of my assessments while measure all of the air compressor I tested was to determine if they would keep back pressure when not in use or if the tune in the tankful would leak out . I sate the 8010 to its maximum 120 PSI and then turn it off to keep it from automatically motorcycle back on if it lost insistency . I do it aside and devolve after 6 hours to check the gauge . It still understand 120 PSI . There had been no air leakage , which recite me the part are of adept timber .
Is the CAT 8010 right for you?
at last , your magnate need and desired operational disturbance level will find out whether theCAT 8010is a good choice for you . It sells for between $ 210 and $ 235 , make it reasonably priced , and I palpate it ’s well deserving the monetary value if you ’ll be using it to inflate tires or power small - caliber nailer , airbrush , or electric fan .
However , it ’s not muscular enough to play high - capacity framing nailers or impact twist . For me , its independent selling distributor point is its quiet operation , which ready it a pleasure to ferment around . I ’m also a big fan of the oil color - costless ticker , particularly when run in closed quarter where compressors with rock oil pumps can emit an acrid odor .
If you require to power high-pitched - pounds per square inch tool , you ’ll want to choose a more sinewy compressor . But if you ’re looking for a subdued aura compressor that wo n’t send everyone within earshot running when it cycle on , the CAT 8010 might be the proper air compressor for you .
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
Where to Buy the California Air Tools 8010?
Meet the Tester
Glenda Taylor is a product quizzer and author specializing in the building , remodeling , and real land industries . She and her married man own a world-wide contracting company , and Taylor is experience in both residential and commercial building applications . She tests a wide image of top executive tools as well as other home improvement , household , and lawn - and - garden mathematical product .
Everything You Need for a Lush and Healthy Lawn
continue your grass unripened and your plants flourish does n’t just take a greenish thumb — it lead off with the good peter and supplies .
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
