No Leak Blast Gates

[@Fastball108]

You should sell those 3D printed spacers - I’d sure buy them. I too am blessed with the metal gates you chose to doctor and since they are the most economical non-plastic blast gates from Rockler I bet many others are too. Thanks as always for the innovation and inspiration

[@RingsWorkshop]

I hadn’t really thought about it, but if I got enough interest I may do that! I have another video coming out in the future around automating everything that includes more 3D printed parts. Could always do those together. Appreciate the idea, and thank you for the kind words!

[@DennisDolan-fl3mw]

agree. if you could make the aluminum spacers to fit several different brands and sizes.

[@alphonse53]

I've opted for the slide through gate in building my fully automatic system. To solve the leakage issue with both aluminum gate types, I used my 12" disc sander to remove both the shoulders along the edges on one half of the gate. The opposing shoulders on the other half are just high enough to allow slide clearance.

[@RingsWorkshop]

Good idea!

[@tonydavis6487]

I've had the same issues and tried coming up with solutions. I have the plastic ones, which always clogged and I just ended up ripping them apart to clean them and gorilla taping them back together afterwards. Jonathan Katz Moses ended dropping a video with his own style blastgates and I ended up buying his templates but I really like what you did! Great design and if I didn't already make the switch I would absolutely be doing all these upgrades. Great video man!!

[@RingsWorkshop]

Thank you! I appreciate that!

[@martyjosephson4937]

To keep the gate from opening all the way out, keep the nub and just relieve the aluminum casting by drill an indent to let the gate to open all the way but not fall out.

[@RingsWorkshop]

That would be a good solve for those who won’t automate it (which will be my next step), good call!

[@h4mm32]

Great colour grading 👍

[@RingsWorkshop]

Trying to get better at it haha. Thanks.

[@101411726]

Great job man! No collector here yet, but maybe some day in the future. For now, just trying to help out your YT algorithms with a comment and thumbs up! Keep up the good work brother!

[@RingsWorkshop]

Thanks! Appreciate it!

[@WoodUCreate]

I have experienced that problem with my 2.5" gates as you mentioned. They're the plastic ones as well, but I just used something thin to get in there and clean it out occasionally. I've had my "ganged" up in a 4way box, but 95% of the time I'm just using the one blast gate. I was ready to move towards the aluminum, but seeing the problems they have, I can't say it's the way I'll go. Maybe I'd consider those electric gates that open and close when they detect power to the tool. Not sure how they'll fair, but I'd guess they'll have clogging problems too.

[@RingsWorkshop]

So far these have helped quite a bit, finishing up my own spin on automating the blast gates, should have a video out on it in the next couple weeks.

[@domerie]

Good info -- thanks for sharing this. I appreciate your attention to detail.

[@RingsWorkshop]

Thank you! Hope it helps!

[@zilitron2k]

Subbed. Great vid and clever solution.

[@RingsWorkshop]

Thank you!!

[@EngineerMikeF]

Huh? Huh? Good stuff there

[@RingsWorkshop]

Hahahah thanks man!

[@DanielGeorge-c7t]

Same Problem, Same Blast Gates and Looking For A Solution. Did you look a the new Woodpecker design or the ball valve design? Also use a few piece of toilet paper to test for air leaks. I think you have made vast improvements to the metal gate design. You should sell an overhaul kit.

[@RingsWorkshop]

I appreciate it! If I had the time to produce them I would, just not in the cards currently. I’m not a fan of the ball valve or wood pecker design simply because of my plan to automate them (another video I have out now). I also just worry about similar issues of build up or something larger getting sucked in and potentially blocking air flow with more in the way to get caught on. However I haven’t used either so not sure my concerns are justified.

[@davidlang2743]

Hi and thanks for the perfect fix for my new blast gates. Sorry if I have missed the information, but what thickness was your 3D printed spacer? Thanks. David

[@RingsWorkshop]

Appreciate it! I want to say only a few layers, I’ll have to double check.

[@davidlang2743]

Thanks. I hope to make the piece you 3D printed from a material I can hand craft. Being quite thin, I think it’s possible. Best wishes.

[@handmadebywoody5168]

Hello friend, I enjoyed this video. I, like many others, thought the purchase of the blast gates would be a good investment but nope. So I would like to make the modifications to mine. I bought all new and that was a bit expensive. Is there any way I could purchase your .stl file or what file you used to print the insert plate?

[@RingsWorkshop]

I will have it uploaded hopefully in the next month or so when another video releases with them. I’ll be sure to link them. Thank you for the kind words as well!

[@saschma3543]

I made mine with changeable inserts. One with a 100mm/4inch hole, others completely closed. So i only need to swap the open one to the machine i want to use and keep everything else closed.

[@tiffanyhackerspace8377]

I love this solution!

[@michaelbrown1323]

Awesome 👍

[@RingsWorkshop]

Thanks!

[@DennisDolan-fl3mw]

Great suggestions but I don't have a CNC or a 3-D Printer.

[@RingsWorkshop]

Appreciate it. Good news is 3d printers keep coming down in price and are becoming more and more user friendly so should be accessible to more and more people. I just started using a CNC a week or so ago and I’m still really bad at it.

[@dougc78]

Excellent!

[@RingsWorkshop]

Thank you!

[@RON8O]

I’d definitely buy some of the modified blast gates, if you were to sell kits or modified gates themselves. Do you happen to know why blast gates are used for dust collection, versus say a ball valve?

[@RingsWorkshop]

Not 100% sure honestly, if I had to guess I’d say it’s because ball valves are harder to open and close and with some DC ducting being 6” I have a feeling cost comes into play also if you could find one that big. Not sure if wear and tear would be a factor or clogging up, but I doubt it.

[@jimaspinii7579]

I think I recall someone on KZbin testing using a ball valve. I don’t know the video now. Seems it did not work well but I don’t recall why.

[@jimaspinii7579]

I typed in “using a ball valve in dust collection” and the first two coming up were on the topic. I haven’t had time to watch yet though.

[@RingsWorkshop]

@@jimaspinii7579 I know they are a lot harder to turn, not sure if clogging could be an issue or not? I’m currently working on fully automating my dust collection and a ball valve wouldn’t work for me how I have it setup.

[@nattybyrne]

Hi, Wondering if you have got the 3d printed spacers files available online somewhere so i can download and 3d print my own??

[@RingsWorkshop]

I thought I had them posted but just realized they aren’t on my thingiverse site. I’ll look at getting those uploaded.

[@nattybyrne]

@@RingsWorkshop let me know when you get this uploaded, as i would like it very soon.

[@tiffanyhackerspace8377]

9:22, if I wasn't ALREADY a new sub (3D printer enclosure 🤩😍😻, tyvm!), you'd've had me for life RIGHT HERE!! Perf 🤜🤛 You funny 🤣🤣😂😂

[@RingsWorkshop]

Haha thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@FearsomeWarrior]

Which gates work with the NordFab system? The one that costs a lot but might be worth it in a compact shop that will stay that way for a long ass time. ROI, baby!

[@RingsWorkshop]

Not sure. Maybe someday, I’d love to upgrade from PVC at some point.

[@dennismacwilliams196]

Good idea's

[@RingsWorkshop]

Thank you!

[@simoncaron]

Could you share the 3D print schematic please?

[@RingsWorkshop]

Yes! I will get them up soon. I have another video hoping to have done in the next week or two and I’ll have the whole setup uploaded and those will be part of it, both the 4” and 2 1/2”.

[@Jackman8594]

I know this is 2 years late. How about putting the onw side on a belt sander to take down the outer edge where its gets screwed together

[@Busch427]

I was thinking you could use a strip of rubber for the end of the gate instead of duct tape.

[@RingsWorkshop]

Probably could, thought about a couple different materials and I think the guy I mentioned in the video may have done that now that I think about it, but you would still need to adhere it somehow, figured the duct tape just solved both issues. We will see how it holds up over time, I’ll be sure to post any updates in here if I change anything.

[@gregorysawyer4472]

Static

[@RingsWorkshop]

For some reason I can’t see your longer response, I only see the comment “Static”

[@davehunt0000]

@@RingsWorkshop I'm guessing he is asking about static build up. When I built my dust system about 15 yrs ago, this was a big concern in the hobby/industry (could spark an internal dust explosion), particularly with PVC piping. I think Fine Woodworking did a study just a couple years later that pretty much debunked the concern. Sadly I still have hundreds of feet of copper wire wrapped around my system...

[@RingsWorkshop]

@@davehunt0000 I do think that’s what it was referring to, however he had a few other suggestions and it shows the preview in my notifications but I can’t see the full comment. I think he typed “static” to correct a mispell of “ststic” in the longer response. I just can’t see more than the first 20 or so words and when I click on it, it brings me to this comment. Not sure if he deleted the first one on accident? But I agree with you about the PVC, I have zero concerns about it myself, but I know others still do.