Customer Reviews
Better than I expected 
2007-01-09
I have a smaller PC compressor in the shop that is very LOUD, so expected this one to be as well, especially since some of the other reviews found it so. But it's not much louder than the two-stage oillube compressor it replaced. I needed something that could be moved in a pinch, something that could run off 110V 15A service I have in the garage, and something with enough capacity to run my air ratchets, cut off tools, etc. I bought this unit fully expecting to have to wait for it to catch up occasionally, but it's kept up just fine.
The only complaint I have with the unit is the difficulty of reaching the drain cock at the bottom of the tank. Next spring when it warms up I might replace that with an Ell and a ball valve. It also draws the full 15 amps, so plug it into a run that nothing else is pulling from.
Overall I'm very satisfied with this unit.
Oops, where's that quality control? 
2006-08-30
I'd love to review this product but when it was assembled, they cross threaded the tube that connects the compressor unit with the storage tank. Once the pressure got up to 60lbs, it began to leak excessively. HOWEVER, contact with Amazon resulted in a new unit being sent to my home and free pickup of the old unit. Maybe I can review that one.
Good Compromise 
2006-07-02
The compressor is very easy to set up and use. The instructions are very clear. I am very pleased with the purchase. From my research, everyone told me that bigger is better. However, I don't have much space so a dedicated unit was out of the question. The space-saving vertical design and wheels works great for me. The 5.1 SCFM at 90 PSI should be sufficient for my needs; although a little more power would have been welcome. The compressor has a very solid feel and is very heavy. There is no way I could load it into the back of my truck by myself. The wheels are a little small and appear to be made of a hard plastic. They are adequate for moving the compressor around the garage, but would not work well on stairs or outside. Another small gripe is that the drain plug is only 3/4" off the floor. Therefore, you have to get on your belly to open and close it. It is rather awkward, especially if you have a container underneath to catch the water. Obviously the container has to be very flat. In my opinion the compressor is loud, particularly if you are in a closed room. However the rumble of the motor is much more tolerable than the high pitched whine of some of the other compressors I checked out. I have not experienced any electrical problems with breakers in my old house. In addition, buying from Amazon, instead of Grizzly is great because of the free shipping. It was delivered to my house by a freight company and I saw the invoice to Amazon was over $100. I don't think I would trust the shipment to UPS because the unit is heavy and some parts could be easily damaged. Unfortunately, it looks like Amazon has increased the price by $85 since I bought it.
great choice for general purpose home use 2005-08-23
I recently bought one of these, and have been quite pleased so far. The two-stage compressor means that it is quieter than a single-stage unit, and should mean better reliability as well.
The owner's manual suggests that it should be the only thing operating on a 15 amp circuit. They warn that it could trip the breakers if you turn on anything else, because it pulls close to 15 amps all by itself. I use it on a 20 amp circuit, and have had no trouble.
I've used some fairly demanding air tools with it, such as air drills and die grinders. The motor comes on early and stays on under continuous air drill usage, but it manages to keep up.
You can probably get this cheaper at a local store if it is available and if you have a vehicle that can haul it around, because Amazon has to cover the cost of shipping. However, if you live somewhere remote then it is probably worth it to have Amazon ship it to you. It definitely takes two people to lift it up into a truck bed.
It comes with a universal-style female quick disconnect.
The only thing I don't like about it is the process for depressurizing the tank. You have to pull open the spring-loaded safety valve. This is very loud. Also, since the spring must be set for 175 psi, it becomes very hard to keep open as the pressure drops down below 100 psi or so. And the drain valve is hard to open and hard to seal. It is also easy to damage if it is over-tightened.
The good news is that the drain valve can be removed. I replaced it with some tubing and a manual ball valve. For about $20 of hardware, this is a big improvement.
GREAT FOR A WON MAN SHOP 2005-02-09
I PURCHASED THIS COMPRESSOR ABOUT TO WEEKS AGO AND HAVE USED IT A LOT IN MY ONE MAN WOODWORKING, IT WORKS MY AIR TOOLS LIKE A DREAM. IT REPLACED,A SMALL PANCAKE COMPRESSER THAT I WAS USEING TO RUN MY NAIL GUNS I WOOD RECOMMEND THIS COMPRESSOR TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS A COMPRESSOR THAT WILL GIVE YOU ALOT OF BANG FOR YOU BUCK.
Very good compressor 2008-06-30
I've had this for over a year now with absolutely no issues.
I primarily bought this for it's power, relative portability, features, and the Porter Cable name.
I've done an entire 1st floor hardwood floor install with it and a 100'
hose with the famous standard floor stapler-nailer that the big contractors use with no issues.
I've also used it to blow out sprinklers here in Colorado as well as some grinding, sanding, and cutting air tools.
You can find an aftermarket hose reel that you can fabricate aluminum brackets for to attach to the compressor's handle.
You should also add a simple valve to the bottom to drain any accumulated water buildup - this is most important for the tank not to rust internally and is spelled out in the extensive manual.
I've even bought a winch system to lift the unit into the back of my truck to take it to rental properties to blow out sprinklers. The winch system is really for hauling large hunting game into your truck, but it works for hauling this unit up into the truck as well.
You can't beat this for a more permanent powerful solution for home use.
Although for true portability I will probably get a pancake compressor, although I don't see the need right now with work to be done around the house.
Additionally, it is a true 15 amp device, so you can't run much else off the same circuit, keep that in mind. With power comes a price.
Best Portable 2008-05-24
I think this is the best portable air compressor on the market. It is heavy, but with a little help could be moved to any job site. I've only had it about a month...but it has performed beautifully, doing what the description advertised. It is very quiet. It was delivered undamaged in a 48' trailer, strapped and shrinkwrapped to a heavy 4-way pallet. Oh, and Amazon beat everyone's price by a large margin.
No quality control 2008-04-15
I waited about 2 weeks for this over sized item to arrive only to find that the tank was defective. It obviously was not tested because the air whizzing out of a weld in the tank could be heard from another room in my shop. I feel bad for Amazon because in the end they will probably pay more for this Item in shipping than the original invoice. The only thing that I could tell about this compressors performance is that it was not as loud as other compressors that I have used. Too bad.
Great value for the money!!!! 2008-01-04
Awesome product. Pumps up fast and will last almost forver with proper use. Wheels are plastic, but has a semi pneumatic tread. Very good value. I have bought several porter cable brand tools and have yet to be dissapointed. I even got free shipping. So it was a great buy for my area. Other's were not as nice for the money if bought locally.
porter cable shop boss 2007-09-14
i purchased the compressor after reading other reviews that claimed this compressor would pretty much keep up with air tools. WRONG! i would not reccommend this compressor to anyone desiring to run tools requiring 90 psi, as it doesn't come close to keeping up. need to inflate a ball or tire? this compressor can handle that.
Porter-Cable CPFC2TV3525VP 15 Amp 3.5 Horsepower 25-Gallon Oil-Free Wheeled Vertical Compressor
