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porta band
For what you want to do, cutting round stock repeatedly look into a horizontal metal cutting saw before going through all the trouble converting your wood band saw. It lets you clamp the metal and just let the saw cut. Will be much easier, safer and more precise.
Check Harbor Freight for their inexpensive horizontal band saw for metal. Don't forget you can sell your wood band saw on Craigslist to get part or all the cost of the inexpensive horizontal saw.
I have never seen a bandsaw intended for metals that employed rubber tires, I have seen people use wood cutting bandsaws primarily for aluminum and in short order they had "Aluminum Impregnated Rubber Tires" which became lumpier until they failed, this is exacerbated by flood coolant or other cutting fluids.
This does not however address your questions about stock blade lengths or making your own blades.[/QUOTE
My Grob 4v-18 vertical bandsaw has rubber tires although I've never seen a horizontal one that did.
As far as blades, most blade suppliers will make them to whatever length you want. I custom order them for my vertical wood bandsaw that I converted.