Q:

I’ve seen several woodworking bandsaws with two speeds. When should the slower speed be used and when the faster one?

Dick Schamberger, Painesville, OH

A:

The faster speed is for woodworking. The slower speed is actually for cutting non-ferrous metals like brass, copper, and aluminum. Typically, the slower speed is not slow enough to cut hard metals like steel. Don’t bother buying a two-speed bandsaw, unless you plan to do metalwork regularly. For occasional cutting on non-ferrous metals, you can use a woodworking bandsaw equipped with a regular tooth, 14-tpi (teeth per inch) woodworking blade.

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