Band Saw Speed Question

« back to Power Tools, Hardware and Accessories forum

392 posts in 1313 days

1230 days ago

Hi Guys!

Have a question regarding band saw blade speed. My instruction manual states that for hardwood, the saw should be set at 1450 feet per minute, and for all other woods, 3000 FPM.

Why the difference? Also, is there any harm in sawing hardwoods at 3000 FPM?

Thanks much!

-- Dean

1 reply so far

Steve Peterson

home | projects | blog

180 posts in 1248 days

#1 posted 1230 days ago

I purchased a used saw that the previous owner put in a 3450 RPM motor that caused the blade to move somewhere near 6000 FPM. That speed is scary fast and made the entire saw vibrate.

I swapped out the motor with a 1725 RPM motor to reduce the speed down to around 3000 FPM. What a difference. It just feels right.

I can’t imagine needing to reduce the speed further unless possibly to increase the torque on a smaller HP saw.

-- Steve

Have your say...

You must be signed in to reply.

Forum	Topics
Woodworking Skill Share Your woodworking skills are displayed for several lifetimes in each project. Have you had to compromise your project...	8781
Woodturning On the lathe, by the lathe: do you have questions? frustrations? tips? This forum is for all the woodturners out there.	219
Woodcarving Relief, 3D, chip-carving, whittling; carving knives, chisels, pocket-knives, power tools. If you are a carver or want...	28
Scrollsawing Intarsia, fretwork, intricate design cutting and more! This forum is for scrollsawers: share your tips, ask questions...	61
Joinery Have a question? a tip/strategy to share? a challenge, perhaps? Share your "joinery" discussion here.	77
Finishing The finish, whether paint, wax, stain, or something else, can make or break a project. What are your tips and questio...	1521
Designing Woodworking Projects Looking for information on designing your projects? Having difficulties reading project plans? Looking for help with ...	3542
Power Tools, Hardware and Accessories Are you unsure of which tools, or hardware, you need, or which brands to buy? Investing in tools and hardware can be ...	15751
Hand Tools Wood, your hand tools, you and a little know-how. Share your questions, tips and strategies for the use and maintenan...	2028
Jigs & Fixtures Using a jig is like having a couple extra hands helping out. Show us your jigs, share your tips, strategies and, of c...	494
Wood & Lumber Different wood requires different woodworking strategies - from cutting to finishing. Share your tips and challenges ...	2832
Safety in the Woodworking Shop Before you pick up those woodworking tools, take the time to ensure your safety in the shop! Eyes, ears, fingers, and...	808
Focus on the Workspace Are you looking for or do you have tips to share regarding the workshop? Storage, equipment placement, efficiency, an...	899
Sweating for Bucks Through Woodworking If you are selling your work, then you have entered a woodworking dimension with added complexity and stress. If you...	766
Woodworking Trade & Swap All of us are holding onto treasure in our shops, that we either don't need, don't want, or could part with if presen...	2736
LumberJocks.com Site Feedback Connect with the Website Gurus and tell us what you are thinking, suggestions, problems, functionality issues, and so...	1547
Coffee Lounge Need a break from all the standing and wood dust? Chat with your Forum Friends about their projects, their life, thei...	6148

LumberJocks Pulse

Latest activity	New comments or replies since you last checked
Blue Collar Woodworking... The best woodworking show since the invention of wood!	StumpyNubs	56 seconds ago	by DIYaholic	sign in to get readership tracking
Broken Craftsman Tablesaw	NavalAg05	3 minutes ago	by Loren	sign in to get readership tracking
Deluxe Basement #1: Symphony Of Destruction (ie making a decent opening for the stairs and coating the walls)	Sodabowski	3 minutes ago		sign in to get readership tracking
The Learning Curve #2: Measure? Who Needs to Measure??	GlennInTx	3 minutes ago	by Dallas	sign in to get readership tracking
Farm Table	Clay Ortiz	3 minutes ago	by Moron	sign in to get readership tracking
Mother Nature, Mens Valet With Extra's	Blackie_	5 minutes ago	by HorizontalMike	sign in to get readership tracking
Table Top Size	DonJ	5 minutes ago	by CharlieM1958	sign in to get readership tracking
Question regarding riveting	Matt Przybylski	10 minutes ago	by Matt Przybylski	sign in to get readership tracking
trut4's Profile	trut4	10 minutes ago		sign in to get readership tracking
Outhouse	woodworkerforchrist	10 minutes ago	by madts	sign in to get readership tracking

Author

Latest activity

New comments or replies
since you last checked

Blue Collar Woodworking... The best woodworking show since the invention of wood!

StumpyNubs

56 seconds ago

by DIYaholic

to get readership tracking

Broken Craftsman Tablesaw

NavalAg05

3 minutes ago

by Loren

to get readership tracking

Deluxe Basement #1: Symphony Of Destruction (ie making a decent opening for the stairs and coating the walls)

Sodabowski

3 minutes ago

to get readership tracking

The Learning Curve #2: Measure? Who Needs to Measure??

GlennInTx

3 minutes ago

by Dallas

to get readership tracking

Farm Table

Clay Ortiz

3 minutes ago

by Moron

to get readership tracking

Mother Nature, Mens Valet With Extra's

Blackie_

5 minutes ago

by HorizontalMike

to get readership tracking

Table Top Size

DonJ

5 minutes ago

by CharlieM1958

to get readership tracking

Question regarding riveting

Matt Przybylski

10 minutes ago

by Matt Przybylski

to get readership tracking

trut4's Profile

trut4

10 minutes ago

to get readership tracking

Outhouse

woodworkerforchrist

10 minutes ago

by madts

to get readership tracking

Band Saw Speed Question

1 reply so far

Have your say...

Woodworking Skill Share Your woodworking skills are displayed for several lifetimes in each project. Have you had to compromise your project...

Woodturning On the lathe, by the lathe: do you have questions? frustrations? tips? This forum is for all the woodturners out there.

Woodcarving Relief, 3D, chip-carving, whittling; carving knives, chisels, pocket-knives, power tools. If you are a carver or want...

Scrollsawing Intarsia, fretwork, intricate design cutting and more! This forum is for scrollsawers: share your tips, ask questions...

Joinery Have a question? a tip/strategy to share? a challenge, perhaps? Share your "joinery" discussion here.

Finishing The finish, whether paint, wax, stain, or something else, can make or break a project. What are your tips and questio...

Designing Woodworking Projects Looking for information on designing your projects? Having difficulties reading project plans? Looking for help with ...

Power Tools, Hardware and Accessories Are you unsure of which tools, or hardware, you need, or which brands to buy? Investing in tools and hardware can be ...

Hand Tools Wood, your hand tools, you and a little know-how. Share your questions, tips and strategies for the use and maintenan...

Jigs & Fixtures Using a jig is like having a couple extra hands helping out. Show us your jigs, share your tips, strategies and, of c...

Wood & Lumber Different wood requires different woodworking strategies - from cutting to finishing. Share your tips and challenges ...

Safety in the Woodworking Shop Before you pick up those woodworking tools, take the time to ensure your safety in the shop! Eyes, ears, fingers, and...

Focus on the Workspace Are you looking for or do you have tips to share regarding the workshop? Storage, equipment placement, efficiency, an...

Sweating for Bucks Through Woodworking If you are selling your work, then you have entered a woodworking dimension with added complexity and stress. If you...

Woodworking Trade & Swap All of us are holding onto treasure in our shops, that we either don't need, don't want, or could part with if presen...

LumberJocks.com Site Feedback Connect with the Website Gurus and tell us what you are thinking, suggestions, problems, functionality issues, and so...

Coffee Lounge Need a break from all the standing and wood dust? Chat with your Forum Friends about their projects, their life, thei...

LumberJocks Pulse

Woodworking Skill Share
Your woodworking skills are displayed for several lifetimes in each project. Have you had to compromise your project...

Woodturning
On the lathe, by the lathe: do you have questions? frustrations? tips? This forum is for all the woodturners out there.

Woodcarving
Relief, 3D, chip-carving, whittling; carving knives, chisels, pocket-knives, power tools. If you are a carver or want...

Scrollsawing
Intarsia, fretwork, intricate design cutting and more! This forum is for scrollsawers: share your tips, ask questions...

Joinery
Have a question? a tip/strategy to share? a challenge, perhaps? Share your "joinery" discussion here.

Finishing
The finish, whether paint, wax, stain, or something else, can make or break a project. What are your tips and questio...

Designing Woodworking Projects
Looking for information on designing your projects? Having difficulties reading project plans? Looking for help with ...

Power Tools, Hardware and Accessories
Are you unsure of which tools, or hardware, you need, or which brands to buy? Investing in tools and hardware can be ...

Hand Tools
Wood, your hand tools, you and a little know-how. Share your questions, tips and strategies for the use and maintenan...

Jigs & Fixtures
Using a jig is like having a couple extra hands helping out. Show us your jigs, share your tips, strategies and, of c...

Wood & Lumber
Different wood requires different woodworking strategies - from cutting to finishing. Share your tips and challenges ...

Safety in the Woodworking Shop
Before you pick up those woodworking tools, take the time to ensure your safety in the shop! Eyes, ears, fingers, and...

Focus on the Workspace
Are you looking for or do you have tips to share regarding the workshop? Storage, equipment placement, efficiency, an...

Sweating for Bucks Through Woodworking
If you are selling your work, then you have entered a woodworking dimension with added complexity and stress. If you...

Woodworking Trade & Swap
All of us are holding onto treasure in our shops, that we either don't need, don't want, or could part with if presen...

LumberJocks.com Site Feedback
Connect with the Website Gurus and tell us what you are thinking, suggestions, problems, functionality issues, and so...

Coffee Lounge
Need a break from all the standing and wood dust? Chat with your Forum Friends about their projects, their life, thei...