Tool Review: Laguna B-Flux Dust Collector
I recently had to replace my old, loud, and inefficient harbor freight dust collector after a few years of use. I didn’t have a huge budget for one but also wanted something that would be a bit higher quality. After some looking around and talking with the guys at my local Woodcraft store, I pulled the trigger on the Laguna B-Flux. It checked most of my boxes.
Likes
My old dust collector was fairly loud. I needed to wear ear protection when I ran it. The B-Flux on the other hand, I can stand next to it and have a conversation. It’s rated at 76 dB (at 9.8ft), so you should still wear ear protection. When I first turned it on while connected to my Laguna bandsaw, I could hear (and see) it just cleaning it out. Apparently, my old dust collector left a lot to be desired (and a lot of sawdust behind).
With a 1-micron filter attached to it, the B-Flux is pretty good at keeping the air cleaner. My old dust collector basically had a cheap cloth bag attached to it that worked for collection and filtering. I like how it has the knob at the top of it too to quickly clean the filter and not making a mess in doing so. They say to do one turn with each use to help keep it clean.
Improvements
The B-Flux is only a single stage dust collector. Meaning it just blows everything into the disposable bag that’s attached to it. I wanted a two-stage dust collector, but anything from the factory as a two-stage was a lot more expensive. With the second stage, it collects the larger chips and dust in a can that’s easy to empty that lies between the tool and the dust collector. The finer dust moves on into the dust collectors bag. To add my second stage, I got a special cyclone lid from Woodcraft and a metal trashcan from the local big box store. To keep it mobile I placed the can on a quick and dirty mobile cart.
Quick Stats
Some quick stats for the dust collector from Laguna’s website. More info can be found here.
Motor HP: 1
Electrical: Single Phase 110v
Amps: 8.4
Recommended Breaker: 15 Amps
Inlet CFM: 650
Inlet Size: 4″ Standard
Decibel Rating: 76 d B(A) (@9.8ft)
Links
B Flux Dust Collector
Amazon Search https://amzn.to/2ENI7jL (At the time of this writing the B-Flux wasn’t on Amazon, but things go up and down on there all the time).
Second Stage Addon
Cyclone Lid https://amzn.to/2tRQkNe – fits most 30-gallon metal trashcans