By Martin Harris.

Oneida Mini Gorilla vs Laguna C|Flux 1.5

The Oneida Mini Gorilla and the Laguna C|Flux 1.5 are both 1.5 HP two-stage cyclone dust collectors built for a garage or basement shop. The Mini Gorilla is the smaller, lighter machine, and it ships with a HEPA filter. The C|Flux is taller and about twice as heavy, but it has more filter area, a bigger drum, a 6 inch inlet, a dual voltage motor, and a remote control in the box.

If I wanted HEPA filtration in a compact machine I could roll around, I would pick the Oneida. If I wanted a bigger bin, a 6 inch port for ductwork, and the option to run on 220V, I would pick the Laguna. Every number on this page comes from Oneida's and Laguna's published specifications and manuals. For the brand level picture, see my Oneida dust collector review and my Laguna dust collector review.

The spec sheets side by side

Sources: Oneida Air Systems Mini Gorilla product page and Oneida's spec listing at authorized dealer Woodworking Source Direct; Laguna Tools C|Flux:1 product page and C|Flux:1 owner's manual. Specs as published when checked in September 2026.

What a two-stage cyclone does

A cyclone is a metal cone that spins the incoming air. Chips and most of the dust fly out to the wall of the cone, slow down, and drop into the drum below. The cleaner air turns and rises up the middle of the cone, then passes through the filter. The cone is stage one. The filter is stage two.

Because most of the debris never reaches the filter, the filter clogs more slowly and keeps its airflow longer between cleanings. The cost is extra resistance to airflow inside the cone. Both of these machines make that same trade. My cyclone vs bag dust collector comparison goes deeper on when the trade pays off in a small shop.

Why the airflow numbers don't line up

CFM means cubic feet of air per minute. It is the volume of air a collector moves. On paper the Laguna looks like it moves more than twice as much air as the Oneida. That is mostly a difference in how each company reports the number.

Static pressure is the resistance air meets as it travels through hose, duct, fittings, the cyclone, and the filter. It is measured in inches of water column (in. w.c.). A maximum CFM figure is usually taken with almost nothing attached, so resistance is close to zero. Oneida's dealer listing gives 583 CFM at 2 in. w.c. of resistance, and Oneida's own product page says "up to 600 actual CFM." Laguna lists 1,314 CFM as its maximum and 900 CFM at what it calls a shop setting, without saying what resistance that setting represents.

So 583 and 900 are two different tests. Neither maker publishes a full fan curve on the pages I checked, which is the chart that would let you compare airflow at the same resistance. The fair reading is that the C|Flux probably moves somewhat more air, with its larger 13 inch fan listed in the Laguna manual, but the gap is smaller than the headline numbers suggest.

Max static pressure is the most resistance the fan can pull against, at a point where airflow is close to zero. Oneida lists 9 in. w.c. and Laguna lists 10.1 in. w.c. You never run a collector there, but a higher number usually means the fan holds its airflow a little better on a long duct run. To see how much resistance your own layout adds, read my guide to dust collector static pressure, then check your tools against the CFM calculator.

Filters: HEPA on the Oneida, 1 micron on the Laguna

A micron is one millionth of a meter. The dust that hangs in the air longest and goes deepest into your lungs is the very small stuff, a few microns and under. The Mini Gorilla ships with a HEPA filter. Oneida rates it at 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 micron, and its dealer listing calls it E12 rated. The filter uses an ePTFE membrane, a thin nonstick layer on the surface of the media. Dust sits on top of the membrane instead of packing deep into the fibers, so it lets go more easily when you clean it.

Cleaning the Oneida filter is done through a clean port. You connect a shop vac hose to the port and it pulls out the dust you knock loose, so you don't have to take the filter off. Oneida also says the filter can be cleaned by blowing compressed air from the outside.

The C|Flux uses a 1 micron pleated cartridge with 48.4 square feet of media, about 21% more area than the Oneida's 40 square feet. More area spreads the same airflow across more media, so each square foot loads more slowly. Laguna's manual tells you to turn the filter cleaner crank clockwise four or five times after every use. The crank spins paddles inside the pleats and knocks dust down into a plastic bag under the filter. The manual warns that turning it fast, or too many times, wears out the inside of the pleats. It also says to empty that filter bag when it is one third full, since a heavy bag can pull away from its clamp. Laguna sells a separate P|Flux model with a HEPA filter if you want that rating on a Laguna.

If fine dust is your main concern, the HEPA rating gives the Oneida the edge on paper. If you care more about time between cleanings, the Laguna's extra area helps. My guide on how to clean a dust collector filter covers both styles.

Drum size and emptying

The Oneida uses a 22 gallon drum that drops down for emptying. It has a bag holder that keeps a liner bag open and a window so you can see the fill level without opening anything. Oneida includes two liner bags.

The Laguna lists a 25 gallon octagon drum on casters, with a foot pedal, a drum insert, and a plastic bag inside. Laguna's manual has you run a bead of silicone along the inside seams of the drum during assembly and calls that step imperative, since a leaky drum lets air in and hurts separation. Laguna sells drum bags in 5 packs (part ADBAG22CP123X5). Three extra gallons is a modest gain. It matters most if you run a planer, which fills a drum fast. For bag choices on either machine, see my page on dust collector bin liners.

Size, weight, and ceiling height

This is where the two machines differ most. The Mini Gorilla stands 64.25 inches tall on a 28 by 24.75 inch footprint and weighs 113.3 pounds. The C|Flux stands 68 inches tall on a 42 by 25 inch footprint and weighs 232 pounds.

In a two car garage the Laguna needs about 14 more inches of wall and about 4 more inches of height. Measure under your garage door track, shelves, and any light fixtures before you order. Weight matters if you plan to roll the collector from tool to tool. At about half the weight, the Oneida is the easier machine to push across a concrete floor with a hose on it.

Power and wiring

Oneida sells the Mini Gorilla as two separate models. The 120V version draws 16 amps, and Oneida's dealer listing calls for a 20 amp breaker. The 220V version draws 8 amps. You choose the voltage when you buy.

The C|Flux has one dual voltage motor that ships wired for 110V. Laguna's manual lists 18.8 amps at 110V and asks for a 25 amp minimum circuit. At 220V it draws 9.4 amps on a 15 amp minimum circuit. Most garage outlets are on 15 or 20 amp circuits, so read that 25 amp line twice before you plan to run the C|Flux on 110V. Switching to 220V means rewiring the motor and the circuit board and replacing the plug and overload protector. Laguna does not include the 220V plug.

If you are thinking about a 220V circuit for either machine, start with my notes on 240V dust collector wiring and have a licensed electrician do the panel work. The Laguna also ships with a hand held remote that runs on a 12V type 27A battery. For the Oneida, a separate switch works, and my dust collector remote guide covers what to check before you buy one.

Inlet size and hookup

The Oneida has a 5 inch O.D. inlet about 43 inches off the floor. O.D. means outside diameter, so a 5 inch hose or fitting slips over it. The Laguna takes one 6 inch port or two 4 inch ports through an adapter. A 6 inch port suits a short duct system with a 6 inch main, while a 5 inch inlet suits a single hose to one machine at a time. Running two 4 inch hoses at once splits the airflow, so I would keep one blast gate open at a time on either collector. My comparison of 4 inch vs 6 inch dust collection explains why pipe size changes how much air reaches the tool.

Noise

Oneida's dealer listing gives 80.5 dBA at 10 feet. Laguna lists 82 dB at 9.8 feet. The distances are close, so the numbers are roughly comparable, and 1.5 decibels is a small difference that most people will barely notice. At either level I would wear hearing protection for a long session. For more on shop noise, see my list of the quietest dust collectors.

Warranty, price, and where to buy

Laguna's product page says new woodworking machines carry a 2 year warranty, and machines bought through a dealer must be registered with Laguna within 30 days. Oneida's authorized dealer Woodworking Source Direct lists a 2 year manufacturer's warranty on the Mini Gorilla. Oneida's own warranty policy says coverage runs 1 or more years depending on the product and limits electrical parts such as remotes and sensors to 90 days, so confirm the terms with Oneida before you buy.

This site's data lists street prices of $1999 for the Oneida and $950 for the Laguna as of 2026-10-24. Prices change often, so check before you order. You can find the Oneida Mini Gorilla at Oneida Air Systems and the Laguna C|Flux 1.5 at Acme Tools.

Which one I would buy

• Pick the Oneida Mini Gorilla if you want a HEPA rated filter, a machine you can roll between tools, or a collector that fits under a low shelf or door track. Order the voltage you have.
• Pick the Laguna C|Flux 1.5 if you plan a short 6 inch duct run, want a bigger drum and more filter area, and have a 25 amp 110V circuit or a 220V circuit ready.
• Pick neither if your shop runs one small tool at a time off a 4 inch hose and budget is tight. A 1.5 or 2 HP canister collector costs less and moves plenty of air for that job.

For more cyclone options at other sizes, see my best cyclone dust collector roundup. If you are still planning the whole shop, start with my complete guide to small shop dust collection.

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