blast gates - Metal, plastic, shop-made?

[poolhound]

I am just about to start running the rest of my DC pipe setup and have been thinking about blast gates.

Not sure I like the plastic ones as they look a little flimsy but it would be good to know how they hold up. I was considering making some but my shop build list is so long right now not sure if its worth the effort. The Rockler sale this weekend has the 4" metal gates for $6.50 so now they are a real option as the savings over making them are marginal compared to paying full price at typically over $12.

Any strong opinions either way before I pull the trigger?

[Eric]

The plastic ones that I've had are mostly still functioning. They do break and are flimsy. I've had to super glue some together, I've made new gates for some because they've broken.

I've considered the metal ones, and think that would be the way to go if you're buying them. Otherwise, might as well make some up and save some money.

[atgcpaul]

Currently I have 2 4" plastic ones. One is on one leg of the wye after the DC and the other is on another leg after the wye by my TS. They work and they don't seem flimsy. One stays closed most of the time and the other stays open most of the time so they don't see a lot of action. I think I got them at Rockler. $6.50 is a pretty good price for a metal one, though.

[sailor55330]

I have made my own and bought some plastic ones. The plastic ones seem to hold up ok. For $6.50, I'd try the metal ones. My plastic ones were $5-ish at Woodcraft.

As for making them, Honestly, for $5-6 bucks, it's not worth the time involved IMHO, Plus, for me, the plastic ones are a little less intrusive, which in a small shop makes a difference

[dbhost]

I guess it depends on the size ducting you are dealing with. I have 4" self cleaning steel blast gates and they are okay. I am wishing I had shop made 5" gates for several reasons... Not the least of which, my metal gates get banged into and they bend pretty easily... Kind of a nuisance...

[JimD]

Maybe it was the ones I used but my plastic blast gates worked very poorly. They did not open all the way, limiting suction, and their slide mechanism filled with sawdust where they would not open or close - they were stuck in the position they were in when they filled with dust. I never tried the metal ones. I built my own. They worked great (I haven't set up the DC in my new shop yet but I brought them here).

If you buy gates, I would make sure they open all the way. I would also try to install them where the slide part isn't down where it could fill with dust.

[capncarl]

Another vote for the metal. So little price difference, actually less than I paid for plastic. If you decide to go with the quick disconnect hose fittings you will be glad you chose metal.
capncarl

[Brian G]

I say metal. I use SDR 35 sewer and drain PVC pipe (ASTM 3034, I think). It's thicker wall than Schedule 40.

The metal blast gates tap in snugly to the SDR 35. So do the standard DC fittings.

[jussi]

I switched mine to metal a few years back when Rockler had a similar sale. I had the plastic ones initialy and think the metal ones are much better built and more robust. With the small price difference I would def go with the metal

[poolhound]

Picked up 6 yesterday.

[jussi]

I ended picking up a pair myself since I added a few extra lines. Hopefully ducting will be finished later today