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Rolair JC10PLUS Air Compressor Review

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The Rolair JC10PLUS Trim and Finishing Air Compressor is an upgrade to the extremely popular Rolair JC10. This is a high quality, small air compressor that packs a lot of power for it's size. It's small enough to move from one job site to another, and ideal for powering finish and trim air tools. 

Portable air compressors of this size are great for doing DIY tasks around the house, and Rolair has made many improvements in the JC10PLUS that has helped make it one of the most popular compressors on the market today. This article will dive into the Rolair JC10PLUS to help you decide if it's the right choice for you.


Rolair JC10PLUS Air Compressor Review

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Located in Wisconsin, Rolair is a family owned business that's been manufacturing air compressors since 1959. They started with the simple, yet challenging goal of building the best compressors on the market. Today, with the same goal in mind, Rolair is a popular choice among professional contractors and home owners alike.

Rolair specializes in air compressors, in fact, that's all  they manufacture. Their products are well-built and perform well. If you're looking to buy an air compressor, Rolair products should be on your short list. They have a reputation of delivering top-notch compressors and provide excellent customer service. 

Rolair made a number of improvements to their popular JC10 model. The JC10PLUS sports a larger air tank, upward-facing gauges, integrated cord wrap, and a rugged roll-cage with a thick handle grip. 

Specifications

Model: Rolair JC10PLUS

Power Source: Corded Electric

Horsepower: 1 HP

Running Amp Draw: 7.5 AMP

Motor RPM: 1700 RPM

CFM Delivered: 3.8 CFM @ 40 PSI / 2.4 CFM @ 90 PSI

Tank Size: 2.5 gallons

Lubrication Type: Oil-Less

Noise Level: 60 dB

Features

  • Automatic Overload Protection
  • Stainless Steel Reed Valves
  • Two Cylinders
  • Ball Valve Tank Drain
  • Rugged Roll-Cage with Thick Handle Grip
  • Start/Stop Pressure Switch
  • Air Line Regulator and Pressure Gauge

Watch the Video

Design of the Rolair JC10PLUS Air Compressor

When it comes to choosing an air compressor, there are a few key components you should pay special attention. The motor, pump and tank plays a huge role in how the unit performs. Read our Air Compressor Buyers Guide for more information.

Motor

Rolair put a heavy-duty, industrial-grade 1 HP motor with a running AMP draw of 7.5 in their JC10PLUS. It even includes an Automatic Overload Protection feature to protect the motor from damage. The low AMP draw means you won't need to worry about tripping breakers, and allows it to operate on a 120v outlet, which is particularly handy for around the house projects.

The Rolair JC10PLUS electric motor operates at 1725 RPM, which is one of several factors that allow it to run so quietly. When an air compressor has a lower RPM, it generates less noise (only 60 dB), and less heat. The lower the RPM, the less wear and tear on the motor, which equates to less maintenance and a longer service life. 

Pump

The JC10PLUS is super quiet and can fill the 2.5-gallon air tank to 125 PSI in just 55 seconds. The low-pressure switch kicks-in when the tank pressure drops to 95 PSI, then the single stage, two cylinder pump jumps to action and quickly recovers to 125 PSI in just 14 seconds!

And the oil-less design means virtually no maintenance is necessary. The cast-aluminum cylinders, stainless-steel reed valves, and ball bearings all contribute to the quiet operation, but also makes this a very durable air compressor.

Tank

The 2.5-gallon aluminum tank helps keep the weight of the Rolair JC10PLUS to less than 50-pounds. A ball drain valve is conveniently located at the bottom of the tank to make for easy maintenance.

To prevent rust and corrosion from developing inside the tank, it's recommended to drain the tank at the end of each day. If you're not a fan of ball valves, you can easy change it to a butterfly or wing valve.

Rolair JC10 Plus 2.5 Gal Electric Air Compressor

Rolair JC10PLUS

Air Compressor

Maintenance

One of the big benefits of owning a oil-less air compressor like the Rolair JC10PLUS is the lack of maintenance. But with that said, there are still things you need to check and do to keep your compressor running in top form, and to maximize it's service life. 

Most of the tasks are things that you can simply "work" into your routine. For example, before storing your air compressor, Rolair recommends draining the moisture from the tank. This is easily done by opening the ball drain valve and is outlined below. In addition, you should check the air filter, and always be watching for air leaks. If you notice any unusual noises and vibrations it's important to determine the source.

There's a few other minor tasks and checks along these lines, but for the most part, if you pay attention to how your air compressor looks and how it's running, the maintenance is mostly common sense. It is however, a best practice to have the tank professionally inspected annually.

Rolair JC10 Plus 2.5 Gal Electric Air Compressor

Performance

The Rolair JC10PLUS is arguably among the best oil-less air compressors on the market. It's the ideal compressor for powering finish and trim air nailing tools, and is a great choice for DIY enthusiasts and professional site work. It's compact size (16.5"L x 16.5"W x 14"H), lightweight design (43 lbs), and protective roll-cage with handle, make it easy to transport and portable to move between projects.

You won't need to pause your conversation every time it's running. Since the JC10PLUS delivers just 60 dBs of noise, it's an excellent choice for indoor work. This is an extremely quiet air compressor and arguably one of it's best features.

Turn the compressor on, and within 55 seconds the tank pressure will reach 125 PSI.  When pressure within the tank drops to 95 PSI, the low pressure switch triggers and brings the tank back to 125 PSI within 14 seconds.

The JC10PLUS delivers a solid performance for a trim and finishing compressor: 3.8 CFM @ 40 PSI or 2.4 CFM @ 90 PSI. You can learn more about air compressor CFM ratings here. But it is important to remember that this is a small air compressor and it's not designed to tackle large projects.

It does a nice job of powering tools such as brad nailers, staplers, finishing nailers, inflation devices, and air guns. The Rolair JC10PLUS is not designed for continuous use and should run no more than 40-minutes per hour. It's rated at a 70% duty-cycle. 

Watch the Video


How to Operate the Rolair JC10PLUS

The Rolair JC10PLUS is an excellent choice for first time air compressor owners because it is so easy to operate. Always wear eye protection and use in a well ventilated space.

  • Open the tank drain and check that the Pressure Switch Lever is in the "off" position.
  • Start the air compressor and allow it to run for 20 to 30 seconds before closing the drain. This will drain any moisture from the tank and allow the motor and pump to warm-up.
  • Move the Pressure Switch Lever to the "on" position and close the tank drain. The tank will begin to build pressure.
  • Rotate the Regulator Adjustment Knob counter-clockwise. This will relieve any built-up pressure.
  • Attach the Air Hose and rotate the Regulator Adjustment Knob clockwise until your desired working pressure is reached.
  • Once you've finished your project, rotate the Regulator Adjustment Knob counter-clockwise the relieve the pressure.
  • Remove the air hose and slowly open the drain valve.
  • Rotate the Pressure Switch Lever to the "off" position and unplug the air compressor.
Rolair JC10 Plus 2.5 Gal Electric Air Compressor

Rolair JC10PLUS

Air Compressor

Bottom Line

There's a lot to like about the Rolair JC10PLUS. It's built by an American, family-owned company with a reputation for manufacturing quality air compressors. And it's lightweight and portable design makes it extremely portable and easy to transport.

It's uncommon to see a 1 HP air compressor as quiet as the JC10PLUS, and this really is it's number one benefit. Although this compressor is on the higher-end when it comes to price for it's size, we still consider it to be competitively priced. 

We wish it came with a few accessaries, especially for first time compressor owners. So if this is your first air compressor you'll need to pick up a few quality pieces such as a quality air hose and a quick connect coupler set. You may even want to consider upgrading the ball drain valve.   

If the Rolair JC10PLUS Air Compressor meets your power demands, then we think this would be an excellent choice. However, if you need more power, you may want to consider the Rolair JC20 2 HP Air Compressor. It's really hard to go wrong with a Rolair.

Rolair JC10 Plus 2.5 Gal Electric Air Compressor

Pros

  • Easy-to-see upward facing gauges
  • Quick recovery, only 14 seconds
  • Super quiet operation, only 60 dB

Cons

  • The air intake filter is not fully protected by the roll-cage
  • A larger tank would give it more capacity 
  • No accessories included

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