My table saw has the typical 4-in. dust port located on the back side of the saw cabinet, near the floor. Wanting to be able to open and close the port when standing upright near the saw, I created the following arm system. I’m not as limber as I once was, and this setup saves me from bending over every time I want to open the blast gate and use the saw. It has worked great with no problems for a number of years now.

The pivoting arm system is cheap and easy to build, and it will work just as well on other machines with blast gates mounted down low. Aside from its ergonomics, I also like how the system lets me see with a quick look from anywhere in the shop if the gate is open or closed, based on the handle position.

To be able to operate the gate from the front of my saw, I drilled a new porthole on the right side of the saw cabinet, rerouted the internal dust hose, and mounted the arm assembly on the legs that support the saw’s extension table. You could also leave your dust port right where it is and mount the assembly on the back side of the saw cabinet.

The critical element is the long arm, which has an offset pivot point that gives it a 2:1 movement ratio, allowing you to open or close the blast gate with a short push or pull of the handle. The ends of the arm move on a slight arc, while the handle and the blast gate move in a straight line, so little pivoting connectors are there to allow for the deviation.

—Eric Rimel, Spring Green, Wis.

Workshop Tip: Open blast gates without bending and reaching

Flexible tubing and cord makes the mechanism easier to operate.

Three-way pool valve is a user-friendly blast gate

A three-way water valve from a pool supply store keeps a shop vacuum hooked up to a sander and drill press at all times.

Drain Snake Brings Blast Gates Within Reach

My friend, who is 80 and still an active woodworker, installed a new dust collector in his shop. His system has a remote on/off switch, but he still had to…

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Makita LS1219L Miter Saw

This is the saw I want in my shop. For one, it’s easy to use. All of the controls are easy to reach and manipulate, and the glide mechanism is both robust and smooth. The handle works well for righties and lefties. Then there are added bonuses that no other saw has. For instance, its hold-down is superb, as it can move to different locations, hinges for a greater range of coverage, and actually holds down the work. In addition, the saw has two points of dust collection, letting it firmly beat the rest of the field. The one downside was the saw’s laser, which was so faint we had to turn off the shop lights to see it. Still, all these pluses in a package that fits tight to the wall? That’s a winner for me.

Buy at Amazon

Forrest Woodworker II Blade

A high quality, staple blade for your table saw. With 48 teeth, it is suitable for both ripping and crosscutting.

Buy at Amazon

Shop Fox W1826

The thick, felted bag on this Shop Fox is a plus and a minus. On one hand, it makes the unit much less expensive than collectors with canister filters, and also lighter and easier to hang on the wall. Without a separate plastic bag to catch chips, however, they stay in the felt bag, and the shortish zipper on the bottom makes it tough to shake them out. Otherwise, the W1826 is an excellent value.

Buy at Amazon