Compressor Reviews

Rolair JC10 – Proving more than just good cheese comes from Wisconsin

April 23, 2012

Compressors come from a lot of manufacturers and very few make an impression. The compressor market is filled with rebranded Chinese junk and one American manufacturer that stands out is Rolair!

Just because you see a brand in a big box store doesn’t mean it is the best. Some of the best tools you may never ever see in a Lowes or Home Depot. Rolair builds some of the best compressors on the market. The quality of these units are second to none and we have talked with old timers who swear by this brand. Time is money on the job site and when a tool goes down it can create havoc and send costs skyrocketing. Rolair understands this and builds a compressor to meet even the most abusive industrial environments. It all consists of American engineering, quality parts, skilled welds and a nice green powedercoat finish. Four rubber suction like feet keep the unit in place and help reduce vibration.

We just started our flooring project and I wanted a small quiet compressor that could handle a floor and trim nailer with ease. After reviewing the VT25BIG the choice was easy, Rolair! I talked with them and they recommended the JC-10. It is a oil-less 1hp 2.5 gallon compressor with an 8 amp motor that puts out only about 60db. You can connect the air hose by simply pushing it in with one hand. All the fittings are top notch. The unit is protected by a roll cage with a rubber grip, I would like to have seen a more plush grip like on the VT25BIG. The air release valve at the bottom is of the twist variety and it also has a safety relief valve. When the unit is operating it has a red LED on the top. Pump up time from 0 to 125 is 54 seconds and it recovers in just 15 seconds.

The gauges are black, blue and red on a white background and they are vivid and clear. To say the unit worked well for our project is an understatement. This compressor rocks, it has plenty of CFM and power and when I had headphones on I could not even hear it running. When we were speed nailing the compressor had absolutely no issues and delivered a 90 PSI shot every time. The JC10 is the best compressor in its class hands down and is a good fit for any work shop.