Rolair JC10 Plus 2.5 Gal Electric Air Compressor

After being around irritatingly loud small compressors, this makes me smile every time I start it up. It's almost impossible to imagine how convenient it is to have a quiet compressor. I use it under my workbench standing right next to it. It is very quiet to begin with, and having under the bench makes it even quieter. I talk to people with regular indoor voice when the compressor is running right beside us. (See posted pictures) ............... Special features Unloading valve - drops compressor head pressure to zero after compressor comes up to pressure which allows the compressor to start unloaded. This preserves life of compressor and the motor which comes up to speed faster, with less motor current, heating and torque on windings. Double isolated with rubber mountings - the frame has rubber feet and the compressor is rubber mounted to the frame as well. This transfers less vibration to floor. On concrete vibration is undetectable. On floor in house, it is more noticeable, but not objectionable. Muffler/Filter - The compressor is much quieter than others I've been around, even without the muffler/filter. But muffler/filter drops sound level even more. ...... Normal things to check (suggested by manual as well). All compressors vibrate and the manual suggests checking every week for any loose bolts, fittings. After running for a couple of hours, I found a couple of loose nuts on the electrical unloading valve and snugged them up. Doubt that they will losen up again and could also be related to temperature. Went from 70 degrees indoors to about 25 in garage on cold day. See Update below as well - Rolair taking care of this issue. Manual suggests checking air filter as well. I did this and found a surprise there. This quite inexpensive part is undoubtedly provided by another vendor and it's doubtful that Rolair checks the filters before installing them. Mine had metal shavings from cutting inlet tube. I cleaned them out before starting compressor. I also found that the paper filter was not completely sealing the opening, so if the vibration had broken loose some of the metal shavings, they might have made it to the compressor and ruined it. I let Rolair know about this and I hope they send me an upgraded filter, however, I recommend that anyone who gets one of these check the filter first thing and take care of any problems if you find them. Why didn't I mark the compressor down for the obvious problem with the filter? I'm so happy with the compressor, I'm willing forgive a bad supplier on this cheap part....... may come back and revise this if I don't get a response from Rolair. Update - Rolair is sending replacement air filter and addressing issue with supplier. If you check your filter and find a similar issue to mine, I suggest that you contact Rolair. Couldn't be happier with compressor. Have finished a couple of projects and look forward to more. The compressor comes up to full pressure (set for about 100 psi) in 75 seconds and when using a nailer, it recharges the tank in just a few seconds. Takes several finish nails before the compressor restarts to recharge the tank. There is about a 10 psi difference between shutoff and restart. The first 11 seconds with empty tank, the unloading valve is open and the compressor warms up a little before it closes and starts filling the tank (This seems like a good thing, but I don't know if it's "normal" operation, have to do some reading). After the tank is pumped up, the unloading valve closes almost instantaneously after the compressor restarts so there is no delay on recharge. Passing on something I did that worked out well - I wanted to add a filter before air line and tool. Found that with a quick release, 1/4 inch brass elbow and 2 inch nipple, the dimensions were perfect for pinning the filter ($13 from Home Depot) to the frame - put electrical tape on the frame, zip tie underneath to keep it from tipping down and a second zip tie to hold it to the frame. Since I use it at the bench, I didn't add a quick release for the hose. Cutting one zip tie and releasing the quick release, filter and hose come off for transport. (see picture) I used to resist jobs that required compressor because I hated to listen to the things. Not any more. Makes working around this one enjoyable as any other task.

Hands down the best compressor I’ve ever owned. Light weight and whisper quiet. Great for trim work. Maxes out at 90psi so not ideal for roofing or extensive framing projects but I do use it for small framing jobs. It runs a framing gun fine but will run constantly on a big job. Ideal for using in a residential setting where customers and children or pets are present. Gets the job done quietly.

If you're looking for a quiet compressor to take inside homes for renovation and repair work, this is the best I've ever had. Most small and lightweight compressors are so loud you can't talk while they're running; this one is amazingly quiet, and it's great for trim work, light framing, etc. In the 2.5 CFM @ 90psi range, it is quiet and has a low current demand so it runs fine on 15 amp circuits. Wish I had bought this one long ago! Two years later: this is still my favorite compressor for interior trim work and etc. When framing or deck building, we use a larger one, but for everything else this is it. Still holds air pressure over the weekend; everyone who knows portable compressors and hears it running on the jobsite is surprised by it. I've not had any issues with it at all except this: the air filter and housing extend outside the protective cage, and in the rough "world" that is the back of my box truck, it's been knocked off. Reinstalling was easy, but it should be redesigned to not stick out so far. After 5 years of using it at least every week, often every day of the week, it's still a great compressor.

The other reviewers were spot on, thanks folks! I was worried this might be a bit overhyped, but holy moly! This thing is quiet! It came on with a purr, aired up in less than a minute and I sunk a good 10 or so finish nails before it cycled on again. It refills in about 8-10 seconds. Very consistent. Wonderful. My last portable compressor was one of the cheaper pancakes. It did the job, sort of, but I hated that thing! Loud doesn't begin to describe that banshee! Imagine someone shaking a coffee can half full of bolts in your ear for 10 minutes. I'll make concessions for power, but that thing didn't offer any of that either. For all the noise it made, it couldn't keep up with this Rolair, I'll tell you that. I finally burned it up forcing it to keep up on a roofing job. Went Office Space on it. Good riddance. Worst money I've ever spent on a compressor. This little compressor only cost $50 more than that howler monkey, so this little Rolair is a dream for me. Like complete opposites. Not sure yet how it will stand up, but so far it has kept up with every nailer I use. From the finish nailers down, it keeps up easily. With the larger nailers, like my roofing and framing nailers, it will keep up at a slower pace, but I wouldn't put a continous duty cycle like that on one of these. For small jobs, no problem though, and the lightweight pleasant nature of it makes it a joy to use. It is no heavier than a kettlebell, so I can flip it over a shoulder and walk up a ladder with it. It is squarely framed and sits squat, so it is stable in the back of my truck or I can toss it on a seat for transport. I like to keep him on the seat so I can pet him while I'm driving. He likes that. Just kidding, but seriously, I'm loving this little thing. It's like R2D2. The comments others have made about the viewing angle of the guages I would agree with. It sits so low that viewing the guages takes a tilt to accomplish and when you're swapping guns often that slows you down. I don't care, I'll relocate the guages. I love this little guy. 5 stars and a rebel yell from me!

After my DeWalt compressor stopped working (exactly 1 month beyond the 1 year warranty) I looked around for another quiet air compressor for use in my wood shop. Like lots of woodworkers, I read tons of reviews (and even watched a video or two on You Tube). I read one review that raved about how quiet the Rolair is, so I decided to give it a shot. It arrived on a Monday so I had to wait until the weekend to hook it up and give it a try. It really is as quiet as the ads say! But unfortunately my compressor arrived with a defective valve in the air tank. It wouldn't hold pressure and would empty itself in just a couple minutes. I sent the seller an email through the Amazon complaint process. But here is where my Rolair purchase is different than many others I have made. The same day, literally 20 minutes or so, I got an email. He apologized and told me that I didn't have to send the entire compressor back and that they would send me a replacement valve. We exchanged a couple of emails and he copied me on the ones he sent to Rolair. Within a couple days I had the replacement valve and installed it in a few minutes. I understand that manufacturing mistakes happen but the difference is in how the seller deals with the mistakes. An example of a company that treated me the opposite way is the maker of my table saw. I'm still waiting (read 1 year and 4 months) for a replacement drive belt. The Rolair folks are top notch in my book and I would buy from them again without a moment's hesitation. >>>> An update <<<< I received an inquiry from a potential customer from the Amazon site asking if I knew what material the tank is made of. At the time I didn't know, but I have since taken the time to find out (sort of). I took a shop magnet to the tank and it grabbed a hold of it. So we now know that the tank is ferrous, steel probably. But I don't know what kind of steel. Its definitely not aluminum. Hope this helps. >>>> Updated review Jan 22 2014 <<<<<<<< Of, so its been 2 years almost to the day since I purchased the compressor. Like I said previously, I only get to my wood shop on weekends, so the compressor doesn't see daily use. But it does see the same kind of use as the rest of the tools in my shop. I can't say enough good things about the little compressor! It may honestly be one of the best purchases I have made for my wood working! I only wish that my table saw and joiner / planer had the same customer commitment that Rolair has! Their motto, form their website says it best " Produce the finest compressors known to mankind." Without any hesitation whatsoever I would recommend any product that Rolair makes!

very quiet running, keeps up with small tasks.

It's a nice compressor, but mine came broken... the gauges, and coupling assembly came right off, and the box looked like it's been through war, and most likely reused several times over (see pictures). Let me say I love Rolair, not because they use Honda engines for the big 2 barrel compressors, but because I love my vt25big, which costs almost the same as its competitors, but outperforms them. This one however, does not outperform my really old and noisy 6 gallon porter cable compressor for which I payed less than half this price, and weights/ feels almost the same. That does not bother me much really, but for its hefty price my only complain is that it's not as quiet as I thought it would be. It is quieter than a pancake, that's for sure, but I have heard quieter compressor. All and all, I still love Rolair, even though my previous vt25big also came pretty banged up, so the only thing I could say to them is get it together with the packaging and shipping care guys. I will still support you.

When this arrived the box was badly damage even the plastic bag that the JC10 was wrapped in was torn. But the compressor itself has no damage not even a scratch. First thing I noticed is how well balanced this unit is for carrying, and the weight for this old man is not bad at all. Second, I read the final assembly instructions which stated to remove the plug on the air intake and replace with the air filter assembly. There was no plug to remove so I had to look at the picture to see where this filter went, no problem. Then it said to insert the enclosed nylon tube into the filter assembly, well,,,the nylon is poly but that's no big deal,,,,I guess. Now it is time to plug it in and start it up. Alright, I opened the drain valve, the valve is a ball valve not the thumb screw as pictured,,,,,very good. Plugged the JC10 to 110 volts, moved the pressure lever to the On position and whaa laa she is compressing air, quietly very quietly with very little vibration. Closed the drain valve (got even more quiet) and the pressure built up in less than a minute. Impressive! Third, A quick disconnect comes already installed on the air outlet port. Nice,,,,,,very nice. I have read that the gauge's are hard to see. I find this true if I am standing close to them while the compressor is sitting on the floor. But the only time I look at the gauge is when I am adjusting the outlet air pressure. So far so good. I recommend this Rolair JC 10. I will also update when things start to change.