Grizzly G0860 review: the 1-1/2 HP cyclone that fits a one-car shop
A two-stage cyclone on a standard 110V plug, written from the specifications.
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Grizzly G0860 1-1/2 HP Portable Cyclone Dust CollectorA portable two-stage cyclone with a 12-3/4 in aluminum impeller, a 28.1 sq ft canister filter and a 20 gallon drum. It is owner-rated on grizzly.com with 92 reviews.
Who it is for
- A one-person garage or basement shop with a table saw, jointer, planer and bandsaw, where the machines run one at a time and you can move a hose between them.
- Anyone on 110V power who still wants real cyclone separation rather than a bag collector.
- Shops that want a fine filter (1 micron) and a drum that is emptied by rolling it out, not by shaking a bag.
- Woodworkers who prefer a wireless remote so the collector starts from the machine, not from across the room.
Who should skip it
- Shops planning a large duct network with long runs and many blast gates. 868 CFM at 1.8 in of static pressure is a one-machine-at-a-time number, and the 3 HP class exists for bigger systems.
- Anyone running a 20 in planer or a wide-belt sander, where airflow demand is much higher.
- People who want a machine they can roll up a flight of stairs; the 278 lb ship weight is not a lightweight.
Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Motor | 1-1/2 HP, 110V, 15A |
| Intake | 6 in |
| Impeller | 12-3/4 in aluminum |
| Airflow | 868 CFM at 1.8 in static pressure |
| Maximum static pressure | 9.7 in |
| Filter | 1 micron canister, 28.1 sq ft |
| Drum | 20 gallon, quick release |
| Noise | 78 dB |
| Footprint | 27-1/2 W x 44 L x 70 H in |
| Ship weight | 278 lb |
| Optional upgrade | T30489 HEPA filter, 0.3 micron |
| Included features | Swivel casters, wireless remote, paddle-brush filter cleaner |
What the spec sheet does not tell you
A 1-1/2 HP motor at 15A on 110V is the number that matters before the CFM does. A 15A load wants its own circuit, in practice a dedicated 20A circuit, and you should not share it with a shop light string, a bench grinder or the air compressor. If your shop is an old garage with one 15A branch, the electrical work belongs in the budget. Our workshop electrical guide and the electrical load calculator walk through the arithmetic.
The CFM rating is a free-air style figure, and the figure that governs your real shop is airflow at the static pressure your ductwork creates. 868 CFM at 1.8 in is the rated point; every foot of hose, every elbow and every blast gate pulls you left along the curve. The 9.7 in maximum static pressure tells you the blower can move air against restriction, but the usable airflow at the tool will be lower than the headline number. Run your actual hose length through the dust collection calculator instead of trusting a single rating.
Cyclone separation is the reason to buy this model over a bag collector. In a two-stage design the heavy chips drop into the drum before the air reaches the filter, so the filter sees only fine dust and stays open longer. That is why the airflow holds up through a long planing session. The paddle-brush filter cleaner is there because a canister still loads with fine dust over time, and a clean filter is what keeps the pressure drop low.
Shipping is freight, not parcel. A 278 lb crate arrives on a truck with a liftgate, and you need to plan the path from the curb to the shop floor and have a second person for the unboxing. Check the door width against the 27-1/2 in footprint width before you order, and the ceiling against the 70 in height if the shop has a low drop ceiling or a soffit.
The honest weakness
The G0860 is a single-purpose machine for one-at-a-time use, and its honest weakness is headroom. At 868 CFM it handles a 4 in port on most stationary tools but is marginal for the 6 in demands of a big jointer-planer combination if the duct run is long, and it is the wrong tool for a multi-machine shop that wants every gate open at once. The 20 gallon drum also fills quickly during heavy planing, so expect to empty it often. If you plan to grow into a larger shop, price the 3 HP class now instead of buying twice.
Grizzly direct vs Amazon
Grizzly sells this machine direct, so the Grizzly button above goes to the product page with current specs, manual, and parts availability. Direct purchase also means a single seller responsible for freight, which matters for a 278 lb crate. If you want to compare, the closest Amazon-sold machine in the same class is below.
Pick Grizzly when you want the exact G0860 specification, the optional T30489 HEPA filter and the manufacturer product page. Pick the Amazon alternative if you prefer Amazon shipping and returns handling for a heavy item, and then read the spec sheet carefully, because a cyclone with a different impeller or filter is not the same airflow story.
Shop Fox 1.5 HP Portable Cyclone Dust Collector W1867This is the nearest match we could find on Amazon in the same class. It is a different machine from the Grizzly, so compare the spec sheets side by side rather than assuming they are equivalent.
Alternatives worth considering
Grizzly G0441 3 HP Cyclone Dust CollectorThe 3 HP G0441 is the larger system: 1654 CFM at 2.0 in static pressure and a 55 gallon drum. It needs 220V, so it is a different electrical project.
Grizzly G1028Z2 1-1/2 HP Portable Dust Collector (bag type)The G1028Z2 is a bag-type collector with a 1300 CFM bag rating. It costs less in concept because it skips the cyclone stage, but the bag loads sooner.
Shop Fox 3 HP Portable Cyclone Dust Collector W1869A 3 HP portable cyclone sold on Amazon, for shops that have outgrown the 1-1/2 HP class and have 220V.
Keep reading
- Best dust collectors
- Best air filtration systems
- Dust collection CFM calculator
- Single-stage vs two-stage dust collectors
- Dust collection system guide
- Grizzly G0441 vs G0860
- Grizzly G0441 review
Common questions
Is the G0860 a true two-stage cyclone?
Grizzly describes it as a two-stage cyclone with a drum and a canister filter. Heavy chips drop out in the cyclone stage and the canister handles fine dust, which is the design that keeps airflow stable longer than a single-stage bag collector.
Does the G0860 run on 110V?
Yes. It is a 1-1/2 HP motor rated at 110V and 15A, so plan a dedicated circuit. It is not a plug-into-any-outlet machine just because the plug is 110V.
Can the G0860 be upgraded to HEPA filtration?
Grizzly lists an optional T30489 HEPA filter rated at 0.3 micron for this model. The stock canister is rated at 1 micron.
Is 868 CFM enough for a planer and jointer?
For a 6 to 8 in jointer or a 12 to 15 in planer used one at a time with short hose runs, it is in the right class. For a 20 in planer or a long duct network, size up. The dust collection calculator will give you a number based on your actual runs.
This page draws on published manufacturer specifications and design reasoning. We have not tested this machine ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. Specifications were copied from grizzly.com and can change, so confirm them on the product page before you order. WorkshopCalc is an Amazon Associate and a Grizzly Industrial affiliate. We earn from qualifying purchases.