I acquired 2 tabletop bandsaws as shown in the pictures. The Dunlap needs a motor added. What is a suggested motor and pulley size I should use to run it?
For the Wards Powercraft, I need a saw blade. Would wrapping a string around the wheels work for getting a good length? Also, if I wanted it to be used to cut brass, what type blade would you suggest. Is there a reason to have the blade speed at a certain level for proper cutting?
Steel cutting requires a much slower blade speed than cutting non-ferrous metals.
The Wards saw looks like it may be set up too fast for cutting metal with the pulleys shown; the motor pulley looks much too large
Here is a speed chart in surface feet per minute for bandsaws. There are online charts to figure pulley sizes to get the surface feet per minute. Maybe a step pulley would be better to get more varieties of speeds. I like the look of the Dunlop and the Wards looks like a sturdy saw. You can probably disregard the 3-6" material size Lol.
Cheers
Martin
BAND SPEED AND RECOMMEND CUTTING RATES FOR BI-METAL SAWING APPLICATIONS
Regardless of them type of steel you are working with, the Saw Blade Speed and Feed Chart can help you determine the right blade speed and cutting rate for your cutting operation. Its easy-to-read format and wide range of metal options makes it a useful resource for shops around the nation.
The Band Saw Blade Speed and Feed Chart is divided primarily by material size: Up to one inch, one to three inches, three to six inches, and over six inches. Below the material size is the suggested tooth pitch for that material size. Beneath tooth pitch, the chart lists the blade speed and cutting rate for each type of material size. Each column of blade speeds and cutting rates is arranged by row according to material type.
Each category of material has its different varieties listed beneath it. Metal categories include a huge range of steels, nickel and titanium alloys, copper, and pure titanium.
Material Size
Up to 1"
From 1" to 3"
From 3" to 6"
Over 6"
Suggested tooth pitch
10/14, 8/12
8/12, 6/10, 5/8
5/8, 4/6, 3/4
3/4, 2/3, 1.5/1.9, 1.1/1.4
Blade Speed
Cutting Rate
Blade Speed
Cutting Rate
Blade Speed
Cutting Rate
Blade Speed
Cutting Rate
(SFPM)
(SIPM)
(SFPM)
(SIPM)
(SFPM)
(SIPM)
(SFPM)
(SIPM)
Carbon Steel:
1008-1013
250
8-10
275
9-12
280
12-15
250
9-12
1015-1018
250
8-10
275
9-12
250
12-15
230
12-15
1048-1065
200
5-7
200
5-7
175
5-10
150
5-10
1065-1095
200
4-6
200
5-7
150
6-8
120
6-8
Free Machining Steels
1108-1111
300
9-11
330
12-14
275
13-15
220
11-14
1112-1113
300
8-11
330
11-13
275
12-15
220
12-15
1115-1132
300
7-10
330
10-13
275
13-16
220
11-14
1137-1151
275
6-8
250
8-10
250
8-11
200
7-10
1212-1213
300
8-10
320
11-13
300
13-15
255
11-14
Manganese Steels:
1320-1330
250
5-7
250
5-8
200
8-11
175
7-10
1335-1345
250
5-7
225
5-7
200
7-9
175
5-8
Nickel Steels:
2317-
270
4-5
270
4-6
250
5-7
230
4-6
2330-2345
220
2-3
220
3-5
190
3-5
170
3-5
2512-2517
200
2-3
200
3-5
160
4-6
150
4-6
Nickel Chrome Steels:
3115-3130
260
4-6
260
5-7
230
5-7
225
5-7
3135-3150
220
4-6
200
4-7
180
5-7
160
4-6
Molybdenum Steels:
4017-4024
300
3-5
270
4-7
250
6-8
220
5-8
4032-4042
300
3-5
270
4-7
250
6-8
230
5-8
4047-4068
250
3-5
220
4-6
200
5-7
180
3-5
Chrome Moly Steels:
4130-4140
280
4-6
250
5-8
250
8-10
220
6-8
4142-4150
230
3-5
200
4-6
200
5-7
170
4-6
Nickel Chrome Moly steels:
4317-4320
250
3-5
225
4-6
200
5-7
170
4-6
4337-4340
230
3-4
200
4-5
200
4-6
170
4-5
8615-8627
250
4-5
230
6-7
230
6-8
200
6-7
8630-8645
250
3-5
230
4-6
230
5-7
180
4-6
8647-8660
220
2-4
200
3-5
200
4-6
150
3-5
8715-8750
250
3-5
220
4-6
220
5-7
180
4-6
9310-9317
200
1-3
160
2-3
160
2-4
150
2-3
9437-9445
250
4-5
230
4-5
230
5-6
180
4-5
9747-9763
250
4-5
230
3-5
200
4-6
180
3-5
9840-9850
240
4-5
220
4-6
200
5-7
180
4-6
Nickel Moly Steels:
4608-4621
250
3-5
220
5-6
220
6-7
200
5-6
4640-
220
3-5
200
4-6
200
5-7
170
4-6
4812-4820
200
3-5
180
3-5
180
4-6
160
4-5
Chrome Steels:
5045-5046
280
4-6
250
5-7
250
8-10
200
7-8
5120-5135
280
4-6
250
6-7
240
7-8
180
5-8
5140-5160
250
3-5
230
4-6
230
5-7
200
4-6
50100-52100
180
2-4
160
3-5
150
4-6
100
3-5
Chrome Vanadium steels:
6117-6210
225
4-5
225
5-7
200
6-8
170
5-7
6145-6152
225
3-4
200
4-5
200
5-6
150
4-5
Silicon Steels:
9255-9260
200
2-4
180
3-5
180
3-5
150
3-5
9261-9262
200
1-3
160
2-3
160
2-4
150
2-3
High Speed Tool Steels:
T-1, T-2
130
1-2
110
2-3
100
2-4
90
2-3
T-4, T-5
110
1-2
100
1-2
90
2-3
80
1-2
T-6, T-8
110
1-2
100
1-2
80
1-2
70
1-2
T-15
80
1
80
1
70
1
50
1
M-1
150
1-3
140
2-4
130
3-5
110
2-4
M-2, M-3
120
1-2
110
2-3
100
3-4
80
2-3
M-4, M-10
100
1-2
90
1-2
80
1-3
60
1-2
Die Steels:
A-2
210
2-3
200
3-4
190
3-4
180
2-3
D-2, D-3
110
1-2
100
1-2
90
1-2
80
1-2
D-7
90
1
80
1
70
1
70
1
O-1, O-2
240
3-4
210
4-5
190
5-6
170
4-5
O-6
230
3-4
200
4-6
180
5-7
150
4-6
Hot Work Steels:
H-12, H-13, H-21
150
2-4
125
3-5
125
2-4
125
2-4
H-22, H-24, H-25
150
1-3
125
1-3
125
1-3
125
1-3
Shock Resisting Tool Steels:
S-1
220
2-4
180
3-5
165
3-5
150
2-4
S-2, S-5
170
1-3
150
2-4
120
2-4
100
1-3
Special Purpose Tool Steels:
L-6
200
2-4
180
3-5
170
3-5
150
2-4
L-7
200
2-4
180
3-5
150
3-5
100
2-4
Stainless Steels:
201, 202, 302, 304
120
2-4
100
2-4
100
2-4
100
1-3
303, 303F
140
2-4
120
2-4
100
3-5
100
2-4
308, 309, 310, 330
90
1
70
1
60
2
60
1
314, 316, 317
90
1
80
1
70
2
60
1
321, 347
130
1-3
110
1-3
100
2-4
80
1-3
410, 420, 420F
150
1-3
130
1-3
120
2-4
100
1-3
416, 430F
200
3-5
180
4-6
170
5-7
150
4-6
430, 446
100
1-3
90
2-4
80
2-4
80
1-3
440 A.B.C
120
1-3
100
1-3
90
2-4
70
1-3
A-7
100
1-3
100
1-3
120
2-4
100
1-3
17-4PH, 17-7PH
100
2-3
90
2-4
80
3-4
80
2-3
Beryllium Copper:
BHN-100-120
350
4-6
300
5-7
275
6-8
225
5-7
BHN-220-250
250
2-4
225
3-5
200
4-6
175
3-5
BHN-310-340
200
1-2
160
1-2
140
2-3
100
1-2
Nickel Based Alloys:
Monel
100
1-2
100
1-2
80
1-2
60
1
R Monel
140
2-3
140
2-4
125
2-4
75
2-3
Inconel
110
1-2
100
1-3
80
1-3
80
1-2
Inconel X
90
1
80
1
70
1
60
1
Hastelloy A
120
1-2
100
1-2
85
1-2
75
1-2
Hastelloy B
110
0-1
100
1-2
90
1-2
75
0-1
Hastelloy C
100
0-1
90
0-1
70
0-1
60
0-1
Rene 41
90
1
90
1
90
1-2
90
1-2
Udimit
100
1
90
1-2
90
0-1
90
1-2
Waspalloy
90
1
90
1-2
90
1-2
90
1-2
Titanium
100
1-2
100
2-3
100
2-3
100
2-3
Titanium Alloys:
TI-4AL-4MO alpha beta alloy
100
0-1
90
0-1
80
0-1
70
0-1
TI-14OA 2CR-2MO
100
0-1
90
0-1
80
0-1
60
0-1
TI-150A
100
0-1
90
0-1
80
0-1
60
0-1
MST-6AL-4V
100
0-1
90
0-1
80
0-1
60
0-1
99% pure titanium
100
0-1
90
0-1
80
0-1
60
0-1
Remember that while this chart is a practical asset to your workshop, there are a lot of factors it doesn't take into account. The state of your band saw machine, for example, is essential to making accurate, successful cuts: Be sure that it's properly maintained in order to achieve the premium results. Experienced band saw machine operators are also important to attaining the best outcome.
If you have any questions about blade speed and cutting rate, please don?t hesitate to call Sawblade.com at 800-745-6920. Our experienced customer service professionals are ready to take your call.
Tubalcain did a series of videos on converting a wood cutting bandsaw to metal cutting by reducing blade
speed. It takes a while to watch all of them, but there is lots of good info there on how to do it.
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