Rolair Air Compressor,2.5 HP,115V,130 psi (VT25BIG)

For the price, the quality is superb. Everything feels solid. The tube frame is thicker than I thought it would be. It was packed well for shipping. Break in: I couldn't find anything in the manual regarding break in procedure, so I did some research and adopted some of the more common methods. First, I poured the entire bottle of oil it came with into the motor. The oil level was perfect. Then I made sure the drain valve was open and I ran it for about 15 minutes, then let it cool. Then I ran it for 30 minutes (valve still open) and let it cool once again. Then I ran it for another 30 minutes before closing the drain valve. I allowed the compressor to reach 60psi before dumping the air to zero psi while running. Did this a couple times. The manual states that you should time the fill process, so I did. It took 1:13 to go from 0 to 130psi, recorded that in the manual. After about 8 hours of usage, I drained the oil and replaced it with high-quality compressor oil to the proper level. I noticed the old fluid had a deep silver tint to it. I think the most important point that manual made was to be sure to start the compressor with no load (drain valve open) until it warms up for a few minutes, then close the valve and begin working. This is a direct drive so it is loud, but not the loudest I've heard. Because of this design, I cannot dock my rating. This brand/model I chose over the IR twin stack because it had higher output, wheels, and a great fold down handle. The independent contractor reviews were great (including the consumer reviews). This compressor works fantastic for what I want it to do. It will drive nails (two framing guns) all day long, no problem. It powers my 1,000ft/lb impact wrench like a champ. I would like to see how it performs for spray painting and continuous usage air tools, like a die grinder, but I won't hold my breath. I know this compressor has its limitations.

I just received this today, but it looks to be a good product overall. I would like to see a better intake filter and I may modify it to suit myself. It came with solid rubber tires, the dolly feature works very nicely though it may be top heavy on uneven ground, but I don't anticipate it being a serious problem. I haven't tried to load it in the truck yet but it is pretty heavy, that is one of the things that make me feel good about this compressor. I did a similar break in procedure as the Makita calls for; running unloaded for 20 minutes, though I did 5 minutes, cool off, then 10, cool off then another 10. It pumped up from 0 psi to 135 psi in 1:12. It seems like a beast, but I don't know if it would handle 2 kick A roofers or not. It isn't excessively loud for what it is, even quieter than I expected. The folding handle is nice. Rolair seems to have successfully walked the line of quality and low cost. Barring some sort of mechanical tragedy, I am 100% satisfied with this compressor. I hope to use this machine for many years to help me earn an honest living. I checked online for replacement parts and they seem pretty reasonable; regulator for about $43 plus shipping, I think the Makita regulator was something like $70. Unlike a yellow and black well known brand compressor that chose to make the regulator and manifold all one piece that costs $142 and is only a temporary fix for a well known design flaw that renders the compressor inefficient or even useless. I just got through cutting up that DeFAULT compressor with my Milwaukee portable band saw and turning into a welder cart and auxiliary air tank for my new compressor. This compressor is Very similar to the Makita Mac5200, I'm sure it's a good compressor too, I selected the Rolair because the reviews were slightly better than the Makita, one complaint about the mac5200 was not kicking on soon enough. I noticed that te Rolair pressure switch costs more than the Makita replacement, but they may well be the exact same part. It seemed by reading the reviews that Rolair may have better quality control than Makita. It is so frustrating trying to find a quality made product since everything is made out of pop cans by the lowest bidder. I work many hours for my money, hours spent away from my wife and family. I am tired of crappy tools that need replaced years before their predecessors bit the dust. I hope this machine doesn't let me down. It was a tough choice but I like the design of the Rolair better than the Makit with the roll bar offering some protection for the gauges. I will be changing the oil before I use it on the job and again after I use it for a couple days. I will give it every advantage I can. If it doesn't break, I'm thrilled with it.

I have had this compressor for about 18 months, so I feel qualified to offer a review of it. It goes without saying that there are other compressors much less expensive than this one. This one has done everything I have asked of it without a single hitch. It fires up immediately, and holds the pressure in the tank better than any other compressor I have used. I was hesitant to pay the price, but now I can see that it is well worth it. I don't have to wonder if it will start up when I need it. It has proven to be extremely reliable. It is solidly built to the point where you can feel the quality. It's heavy, but balances very nicely on it's wheels when moving it from one location to the next. In the 18 months that I have been using it, I can't find anything negative to say about it. 1/21/21 - It has been 2 1/2 years now that I have owned this compressor. I used it initially mostly for my nailers, but over the last year or so, I have purchased a paint spray gun. This compressor has no problems keeping up with the spray gun (at 50 PSI) . I've also used it for spraying texture on interior walls,...again, ...no issues keeping up. I am able to work uninterrrupted .....without having to wait for a compressor to refill the tank. I am still very pleased and impressed with this compressor after 2 1/2 years. In my opinion, it is well worth the price. 3/24/23 - It's been a little over 5 years now and this Rolair compressor is still running without a hitch. It still starts right up when I need it , still holds air better than anything I have ever used or owned in the past. This thing is rock solid and worth every penny I paid for it. After having owned it for 5 years, I can highly recommend this air compressor without reservation.

The Rolair performs as well as one could hope for and the features making it easy to move around are great. I use mine seldom and not for a particularly long time when I do. Most of the time sits in an out of the way place in my work shop. One day when I had a need for it to shoot brads into some T&G facing for deck supports I got things all set up to go and it wouldn't turn on. When the on and off switch goes it is not a DIY fix because how the on/off machigna is entangled with the pressure mechanism. When I called Rolair for help they advised me they have no a authorized service facilities and best I could do is find some outfit who could deal with. it. They had suggestions. I took it to where they advised and ended up spending almost half the amount I paid for it in the first place. I took it for diagnosis and was charged $35 and told how much it would be to fix, about $150. When picked it up upon completion none of the $35 was applied to the charge. For me it was a bitter experience. No way having had so little use should it have been such an expensive failure?

2 years using it and still works pretty good… pressure recovery is fast…. Just remember to leave it in a level surface when working… check oil level and drain it every day… (1 day helper didn’t drain it for days… and the compressor kept running straight for 4 hours, motor was overheating…after draining, it was working normal)

2 years of daily professional duty in all 4 New England Seasons and Never Once has let me down. Runs high volume work like a belt drive torpedo at half the size (within reason folks, it can't support a 6 man roofing crew going full-tilt, but can neatly handle 6 trim guns or 4 framing guns running 110psi without a problem.). If you are only running a few guns at sub-Rambo firing rates, this thing is the best I've ever used. Can run remotely on a 12 gauge cord off a 15A homerun without popping, IF nothing else is running off it that draws over 1A. That is one of its two "cons" that aren't a real factor for myself personally. The other is that its not quiet compared to a belt-drive. Its muuuuuch quieter than any 6 gallon pancake screamer around, but it does clock at roughly 85db on my meter and when being used heavily, you will notice its running. (And if your really anal about things, the wheel bearings are DS and there's some slop in there... Wah Wah.) All that said, I absolutely love this thing and it was worth every cent I paid. A+ Rolair Quality and built like a tank.

Great compressor. Been using it for 2 months on the job framing houses. Only complaint is it doesn't have storage built in like the identical one Mikita makes. Review edit I used this during the cold winter and the check valve easily freezes. The designed the check valve at the bottom of the tank wich is a horrible design because the water that builds up in the tank simply gets into it and freezes. The way to fix it is run about half quart or less of air tool anti freeze during the winter, which unfortunately is harder on your air tool seals and requires more oiling of the tool.

You get what you pay for. And this is DEFINITELY worth every penny