Shopsmith Forums

What speed (letter) do you guys usually run your band saw?
I'm cutting 5 1/2" thick hard wood with a 3/16" 4 tooth blade.
I've always just set the dial at the slowest, but I'm wondering if a bit faster might be better.
Any difference in speed for wider blades i.e. resawing @ 5-6"?
I know to go slow with metal. Don't cut much other than aluminum.
Also, is there a chart that converts the letter setting to the FPS of the blade?
I have one that converts to shaft RPM.
Thanks, guys.

Gene Howe wrote:What speed (letter) do you guys usually run your band saw?
I'm cutting 5 1/2" thick hard wood with a 3/16" 4 tooth blade.
I've always just set the dial at the slowest, but I'm wondering if a bit faster might be better.
Any difference in speed for wider blades i.e. resawing @ 5-6"?
I know to go slow with metal. Don't cut much other than aluminum.
Also, is there a chart that converts the letter setting to the FPS of the blade?
I have one that converts to shaft RPM.
Thanks, guys.

Set. . rpm .fpm . fps
Slow 700..2016 ..33.6
.....A.750..2160 ..36
.....B.850..2448 ..40.8
.....C.950..2736 ..45.6
.................................
.....D.1050.3024 .50.4
.....E. info removed - see posts below

rpm x 2.88 = fpm / 60 = fps x 12 = ips . . .

I believe the Shopamith manual says not to run the bandsaw over speed "D". The PowerPro included speed finder sets the speed at 950.

I've found that speed "C" works just fine. Sometimes used between "B" and "C".

Don't remember the different speeds for sawing other materials, but I'll look later today.

charlese wrote:I believe the Shopamith manual says not to run the bandsaw over speed "D". The PowerPro included speed finder sets the speed at 950.

I've found that speed "C" works just fine. Sometimes used between "B" and "C".

Don't remember the different speeds for sawing other materials, but I'll look later today.

That be the reason for the dots between C and D. Rather than erase them after calculating, I left D & E in and separated them.

My manual says the same thing.

I will edit my post to remove the E info!

Thanks all for the reply with the letter/FPS/FPM conversions.
Appreciate the help!

Gene Howe wrote:What speed (letter) do you guys usually run your band saw?
I'm cutting 5 1/2" thick hard wood with a 3/16" 4 tooth blade.
I've always just set the dial at the slowest, but I'm wondering if a bit faster might be better.
Any difference in speed for wider blades i.e. resawing @ 5-6"?
I know to go slow with metal. Don't cut much other than aluminum.
Also, is there a chart that converts the letter setting to the FPS of the blade?
I have one that converts to shaft RPM.
Thanks, guys.

Many possible settings for different sized blade and material being sawn. Here's what I read on the PowerPRO speed chart for a 3/16" blade - -
hardwood 950 RPM
softwood 1050 RPM
plastic 400 RPM
Non ferrous metal 500 RPM

These speed are the same for wider blades, but slower for i/8" and 1/16" blades.

Thickness of wood doesn't seem to matter.

Not to hijack the thread but I had the same question about saw/drill etc speeds and received a email ad from SS about their laminated operational speed chart. All I can say is it's fantastic and for 13 or 14 bucks delivered it was more than worth the money. I'm not sure how you get one but it has so much additional information and answers your question, I suggest looking into it.

I have been getting along just fine with the speed chart that came with my machine in 1980. See attached.