WoodWorkers Guild of America » Tools

1. 

   jeknow
   

   junior member
   Joined: Sep '10
   Posts: 6

   Howdy everyone I just bought a new Steel City bandsaw Mod. # 50130 so I can do more resawing. Gave my old saw to a buddy with kids that doesn't have the extra money. My question is my old saw only had one speed and my new one has two. 1500 feet per min. and 3000 feet per. min. I'm pretty sure most my cuts would be with the 1500 setting what would you use 3000 feet per. min. for? I'm open to any and all advice. Thanks,

   # Posted 6 months ago
2. 

   Yonak
   

   member
   Joined: Jul '11
   Posts: 47

   jeknow, the manual is where I'd look for the answer to this question but, if I had to guess, I'd say the slower speed is for metal and the faster speed for wood.

   # Posted 6 months ago
3. 

   Paul Mayer
   

   preferred member
   Joined: Dec '09
   Posts: 116

   I agree with Yonak's guess that is most likely related to material hardness, allowing you to slow down the speed for harder materials. 1500 fpm still seems bit fast to me for metal, but might be about right for resawing some wide mesquite planks. :)

   Paul http://www.vernswoodgoods.com

   # Posted 6 months ago
4. 

   jeknow
   

   junior member
   Joined: Sep '10
   Posts: 6

   Thanks but the owners manual says nothing about the speeds other than which pulleys to put the belt on. But I may just have to experiment. Different speeds for different woods and blade sizes. I was kinda hoping to hear from someone thats already done the experimenting.... kinda takeing a short cut.

   # Posted 6 months ago
5. 

   Yonak
   

   member
   Joined: Jul '11
   Posts: 47

   jeknow, another reason for changing the blade speed could depend on the type of blade you are using. Generally the fewer teeth per inch the faster the blade speed. Of course, feed speed works in conjunction with this, as well. Here's a reference for blade speed I found on the web that may be helpful : http://web.mit.edu/machineshop/Bandsaw/speeds.html

   # Posted 6 months ago
6. 

   jeknow
   

   junior member
   Joined: Sep '10
   Posts: 6

   Thanks for the link Yonak Like I said I'm going to have to experiment and play it by ear I was kinda hoping someone out there has already worked with a multi speed bandsaw and could offer some advice. But I want to thank you guys for the ideas, and the link.

   # Posted 6 months ago
7. 

   George Vondriska
   

   preferred member
   Joined: Sep '08
   Posts: 150

   Metal cutting (ferous materials) happens at about 750 fpm. You can cut non-ferous with a fine tooth blade at 1500 fpm.

   Experiment with your speeds, but I suggest trying the lower speed with finer tooth blades, 10 tpi and higher. maybe even 6 tpi and higher. Use the higher speed for resawing with a 3 or 4 tpi blade. As mentioned above material hardness will also affect the speed choice.

   G

   # Posted 6 months ago
8. 

   jeknow
   

   junior member
   Joined: Sep '10
   Posts: 6

   Thanks George I plan to try out some resawing with it this weekend. Trying to save a little money and do my own book matching for guitars I build. I'll probably practice on some oak before I screw up some rosewood or mahagony.

   # Posted 6 months ago

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