For $2 each how can you go wrong. I used these in a garage dust collection system. I installed 6 of these gates. They are a bit fragile and will come apart easily front to back. one gate is installed at an output with no solid pipe attached to it and it quickler split apart. The other gates are installed between PVC pipes which provide support and I have not had a problem with those, either from breaking or from the gates not closing.

For the fragileness I give it 3 starts otherwise not reason it shouldnt have 5. I will be replacing the gate that broke with an aluminum version.

This product is a great deal at its current price. I modify it and use for a particular need in my business.

I picked these up at a local Menard’s store for about half of the nearly $8 being charged here. I installed four of these in my small garage shop duct system, and so far I am well pleased with their performance. In fairness to the other reviewers, I don’t put a lot of fine dust through my system though. The tools I have hooked up through these gates include a planer, radial arm saw, miter saw, table saw, jointer, and band saw. Aside from the table saw and bandsaw, these tools don’t produce loads of very fine dust, so my gates have never clogged. By leaving the dust collector running for 10 seconds or so after the tool is turned off I have never had problems closing these gates. I cannot say if they will “wear out” over time since I have had them less than a year, but I don’t expect them to.

In short I am happy with everything about these plastic gates except for the price!

I bought these plastic blastgates because they were cheaper than aluminum. What a waste of money! I broke two of them while installing, the slots jam up with chips, and they cannot be taken apart for cleaning. As my funds allow, I will be replacing the plastic with aluminum.

I’ve used these blastgates for about a year in my home basement workshop and have never had a problem. I’ll admit I don’t use the shop every day, but for the casual user, these gates work great! I have about 4 of these in use. Most of the gates are connected on a hose or pipe in a vertical position (where the gate control is horizontal). This might help the problem that others on this forum seem to be complaining about (with dust collecting in the gate slot). As far as the taper goes, I’ll agree the design doesn’t need to be tapered. However, using the wire hose clamps tightened securely, I’ve never had one come off when I didn’t want it to.