I need some advice, opinions or best guesses. I’m setting up my “new” bandsaw, an old 36″ Oliver, and it seems to me the blade speed is really fast. I counted the rotations with a Starrett tachometer at 445 rpm, and figured the blade speed out to be 4191 surface feet per minute. Almost a mile per minute or 47 miles an hour??? I’m not used to that much moving cast iron, so perhaps I’m just imagining that speed is screaming fast??? I checked my 14″ Delta and it runs at 2930 ft per minute.
I can’t seem to find a chart, or recommendations or the like, but I’d like to know the right speed for what I’m trying to do.
Oh, if anybody has any leads on Oliver guides or good Carter prices, my lower guide is messed up and needs replaced, any ideas? I’ve checked about 1/2 of www.owwm.com already.
Thanks for your input,
Edited 3/16/2004 9:42 pm ET by Dirt Stirrer
Replies
Cutting speed depends on the material being cut and the material in the blade. (It also depends on the feed, thickness of the cut, hp of the motor ...)
George,
I suspected that after seeing all the metal cutting vertical bandsaws having variable speed capabilities. I got a lead from Jeff on a formula on the Suffolk site, and turns out, my saw isn't running too fast. I'm just used to something much more timid I guess. Steve
I'd say go with it as it is to start with. Changing the speed would require messing with pulleys, at least. Why go to that trouble before you know for sure you have to. If it's a smooth runner, you might not even notice that it's 43% faster than your Delta.
Like George said, the ideal speed for any particular workpiece depends on a lot of different variables. Most of us don't have variable speed drives, or a separate saw for each kind of wood, so we have to pick one speed (or maybe two or three) and stick to it. The one speed I usually see recommended for wood is 3000 sfpm.
BTW, congratulations on the Starrett rev. counter. Sweet little tool.
You know, if my memory serves me, paid $3 for that little Starrett. Love machinist tools, so many of them have uses for woodworking too IMHO, like those little Starrett 3" squares. I bought the contents of a Gerstner tool box off of Ebay a while back. The box went for $450 or $500, and the good stuff, Starrett and Brown & Sharp, brought $70. I've used most of it too.
I just read a bunch on the Suffolk site, thanks Jeff, and found some great info there. They say 4000 sfpm on a 36" saw is ideal for some blades, so I guess I'm just not used to that much moving mass in a tool. What a tool though. I look forward to getting used to it.
On an aside, I see you're from Buffalo land. Hate to see CU going through what it is. I love those day after Thanksgiving rivalries, hope things get back to normal soon. Steve
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