Guide · Blast gates
Blast gates: sizes, end types, metal vs plastic
Choose a blast gate by the size and fit of its two ends before the body material: what POWERTEC and Infinity state, and why no source compares metal and plastic.
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. How we make money
Picks that fit
- POWERTEC 70135 4 in aluminum blast gateCheck price on Amazon
- POWERTEC 70108 4 in plastic blast gateCheck price on Amazon
- Rockler 4 in metal blast gateCheck price on Amazon
Short answer
Choose a blast gate by the size and fit of its two ends first: does each end go inside a hose, into a fitting or over a pipe? Body material comes second. Makers describe their materials and self-cleaning features, but no source in our register measures leakage or clogging, so there is no evidence that metal beats plastic or the other way round.
Picks that fitAll picks and how to choose
What a blast gate does
A blast gate is a sliding gate in a short housing. You close it on branches you are not using and open it on the one you are. It has two ends, and each must fit the hose, fitting or pipe on that side.
End size and end type
"4-inch" on a gate is a nominal size. The real question is whether the end goes inside your hose or into a fitting.
- POWERTEC lists its 70135 gate outlet as nominal 4-inch OD, with an actual size tapering from 3-29/32 to 3-31/32 inches.[1] That is a male end sized to go inside a 4-inch hose.
- Infinity Tools says its 4-inch gate (SKU 115-313) has tapered fittings on both sides to accept 4-inch hose, and that hose clamps are required. The page does not state the gate's material or its end OD or ID.[2]
If your run is PVC pipe rather than hose, a gate with hose ends needs an adapter on each side. Duct fitting standards explains which.
What makers say about materials and features
POWERTEC describes the 70135 as a cast aluminum body with a steel sliding gate.[1] It says the gate has an open slot in the back for self-cleaning and a locking stop for gate alignment.[1] POWERTEC markets this as a self-cleaning groove design.[1]
Those are design descriptions. The same page makes stronger promises about clogging, maintenance and air leakage that it does not measure, and we do not repeat them.
Are metal gates better than plastic?
We cannot say. No source in our register measures leakage, clogging or wear for metal against plastic gates. Compare what each maker states about the ends, the slide and any slot or stop, and choose by fit.
The gates side by side
| Gate | Body | Slide | End fit | Stated sizes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWERTEC 70135 | Cast aluminum | Steel | Male, into 4 in hose | Nominal 4 in OD, tapers 3-29/32 to 3-31/32 in | POWERTEC |
| Infinity 115-313 | Not stated | Not stated | Tapered both sides for 4 in hose; clamps required | No OD or ID stated | Infinity Tools |
Gates on our list
Each listing below names its own ends. These descriptions are the seller's sizing, not verified fit, so match them to your hose's inside diameter or your tool's port.
Picks that fit4 products
All four are 4 in gates with ends that go into 4 in ID hose (the seller's sizing). The POWERTEC 70135 listing is a 2-pack of aluminum gates (70135-P2); the 70108 is a single plastic gate; the Rockler metal gate is a single gate; the Rockler Ready-Mount is a 4 in to 4 in gate with a wall bracket.
More on choosing
On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
Aluminum gate with dimensioned 4 in ends
Rockler 4 in metal blast gate
For a tool with a smaller port at the end of a 4-inch hose, Rockler sells a gate with two different ends:
Picks that fit1 product
Choose this 4 in to 2-1/2 in tool gate only if your tool's port is 2-1/2 in OD; Rockler describes the small end as fitting 2-1/2 in OD ports and the large end as taking 4 in ID hose.
More on choosing
On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or Rockler.
4 in hose to a 2-1/2 in OD tool port
Clamps on a gate
Use them where the gate maker says so. Infinity says hose clamps are required on its 4-inch gate.[2] Dust hose clamps by outside diameter covers sizing.
Next
Questions
What size blast gate do I need?
One whose ends fit what they join. POWERTEC's 70135 outlet is nominal 4-inch OD, tapering from 3-29/32 to 3-31/32 inches, sized to go inside a 4-inch hose.[1]
Do blast gates fit inside or over the hose?
Check each maker's description. POWERTEC's 70135 outlet is a nominal 4-inch OD end sized to go inside hose, and Infinity says its 4-inch gate has tapered fittings on both sides to accept 4-inch hose.[1][2]
Are metal blast gates better than plastic?
No source in our register measures leakage or clogging for either, so we cannot say. Compare the ends and the features each maker states.
Do I need clamps on a blast gate?
Where the gate maker says so. Infinity says hose clamps are required on its 4-inch blast gate.[2]