Laguna P|Flux 1 cyclone dust collector review
Cyclonic separation, 18.8 amps, and no plug on the end of the cord.
A single phase cyclone dust collector rated at 1,314 nominal CFM, with remote control and a magnetic starter.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nominal airflow | 1,314 CFM |
| Motor | 1.5 HP, single phase |
| Voltage | 110/220V, 60 Hz |
| Current | 18.8 A |
| Motor speed | 3,450 RPM |
| Supply connection | No plug fitted |
| Control | High frequency handheld remote control |
| Control panel | Embedded anodised aluminium with a magnetic on/off starter |
Specifications above come from Laguna's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Cyclonic separation drops chips and most of the dust into the bin before the air reaches the filter, so airflow stays close to the rated figure instead of falling away as a bag loads up.
- Emptying a bin is a two minute job that does not fill the room with the dust you just collected, which is the single most underrated benefit of a cyclone.
- 1,314 nominal CFM is enough to run a planer or a jointer properly if the ductwork does not throw it away, which is a bigger if than most buyers expect.
- A magnetic starter means the machine will not restart itself after a power interruption, which on a collector tucked in a corner is a real safety feature.
- Remote control matters more than it sounds. A collector you have to walk to is a collector you sometimes do not switch on.
Where it falls short
- It ships with no plug. At 18.8 amps this is a hardwired machine or one you fit an appropriate plug and receptacle to, and either way it is a licensed electrician's job on a properly sized dedicated circuit. Do not run it on an extension lead from a general-purpose outlet.
- 1.5 HP is modest for a cyclone. The nominal CFM figure is measured at the inlet with no ducting; every foot of pipe, every elbow and every flexible section takes some away, and a badly designed run can halve it.
- Cyclones are tall. Measure your ceiling before you buy, because the usual reason a cyclone gets returned is that it does not fit under a garage ceiling.
- It captures what reaches it. A collector cannot fix a machine with poor dust ports or a hood in the wrong place, and the jointer and table saw are the usual offenders.
- It does not clean the air already in the room. Airborne fines from sanding stay suspended for hours, which is what an ambient air cleaner and a properly fitted respirator are for.
What owners report
Owners who move from a single-stage bag collector to a cyclone consistently describe the same two things: the filter stops loading, and the shop stops smelling of dust. Airflow that holds up over a working day is the practical benefit, and it is the reason cyclones cost more. Reports on the remote and the magnetic starter are uniformly positive and uniformly described as small things that get used constantly.
The complaints are almost never about the machine and almost always about the installation. Ducting is where CFM goes to die. Size the runs with the duct sizing calculator, work out what each machine actually needs with the dust collection CFM calculator, and use as little flexible hose as you can manage. Owners who ran 4 inch flex to a 20 inch planer report disappointment that has nothing to do with the collector.
The health case is the reason this machine exists, so state it plainly. The visible chips are not the hazard. The fine fraction, the part you cannot see hanging in a sunbeam an hour later, is what reaches deep into the lungs, and several common shop timbers, oak and beech among them, carry carcinogenic classifications for their dust. A disposable dust mask does not seal to your face and is not a respirator; our respirator versus dust mask comparison sets out the difference. Collection at the machine, a properly fitted respirator for sanding, and an air cleaner running after you leave are three separate jobs, and a cyclone only does the first one.
Who it suits
- Shops running a planer, jointer or drum sander, where chip volume overwhelms a single-stage collector.
- Anyone who has decided that fine wood dust is a long-term health exposure to manage rather than a mess to sweep.
- Small professional shops that want the filter to stay clean without a weekly service.
Who should skip it
- People collecting from a bandsaw and a miter saw occasionally, where a single-stage machine is genuinely enough.
- Shops with low ceilings, because cyclones are tall and this one is no exception.
- Anyone unwilling to have a dedicated circuit installed for an 18.8 amp machine with no plug.
Alternatives worth considering
Laguna's cheaper cyclone at half the price and the same nominal motor size, on 110V. Less refinement and lower rated airflow, and still a genuine two-stage cyclone rather than a bag collector, which is the distinction that matters most.
Check price on AmazonMore motor for less money in a portable cyclone, which suits a shop where the collector has to move to the machine rather than the other way round. Ducting a fixed system is better if you can, but a portable cyclone that gets used beats a fixed one that does not.
Check price on AmazonA completely different approach: high static pressure rather than high volume, with HEPA filtration. It suits small-port machines, sanders and hoses where a high-volume collector runs out of suction, and it is the better answer if your dust problem is fine particulate rather than chip volume.
Check price on AmazonCommon questions
Single-stage or two-stage cyclone dust collector: which do I need?
A single-stage collector pulls everything through the impeller and into a bag, so the filter loads and airflow drops through the day. A cyclone separates chips into a bin first, so the filter stays clean and airflow holds. For a shop running a planer or drum sander, the cyclone is worth the money. For occasional use, it is not. Our single vs two-stage dust collector comparison goes through it in detail.
Is 1,314 CFM enough for a 20 inch planer?
It is in the right range at the inlet, and the ducting decides whether you keep it. Nominal CFM is measured without pipe attached; long runs, undersized pipe, sharp elbows and flexible hose all take a share. Size the system with the dust collection calculator and the duct sizing calculator before assuming a number on a spec sheet reaches the machine.
Does the P|Flux 1 come with a plug?
No. Laguna lists it with no plug fitted, and at 18.8 amps that is the correct decision on their part. It needs a properly sized dedicated circuit and a suitable connection, and that is work for a licensed electrician. Check that your panel has the capacity with the electrical load calculator before you order.
Do I still need a respirator if I have a dust collector?
Yes, for sanding and for any operation the collector cannot capture at source. A collector removes dust at the machine; it does nothing about the fine fraction already airborne in the room, which stays suspended for hours. A disposable dust mask is not a respirator and does not seal. Several common timbers carry carcinogenic classifications for their dust, so this is a health decision rather than a comfort one.
Shop vac or dust extractor for small tools?
A shop vacuum moves a small volume at high suction, which suits sanders and routers with small ports. A dust collector moves a large volume at low suction, which suits planers, jointers and table saws with 4 inch ports. They are not interchangeable, and most shops end up with both. Our shop vac versus dust extractor comparison explains why.
Keep reading
- Single vs two-stage dust collector compared
- Shop vac vs dust extractor compared
- Respirator vs dust mask compared
- Dust collection CFM calculator
- Duct sizing calculator
- Grizzly G0454Z 20 in planer review
- Powermatic PM2244 drum sander review
- SawStop PCS175 review
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.