Bandsaw speed choice

[Don Inghram]

My bandsaw has two speeds. 3,450 and 1,500. What is the advantage of using the lower speed? Manual says for hard tropical woods. Would this be an advantage? Doesn't seem so to my thinking, but the engineers are probably right. Anyone else try a lower speed on super hard woods. I'm cutting a bunch of it right now.

[Don Inghram]

Nobody ever switched their saw to a different speed?

[Basil Rathbone]

Good question, I was wondering the same thing.

[Rick Levine]

Maybe for cutting metal?

[joe greiner]

Metal-cutting bandsaws generally run a whole lot slower than 1500 fpm; more like 80 to 400. Perhaps this is not the first bandsaw your manufacturer made, and maybe they know something? All kidding aside, high speeds on hardwood tend to burn the wood faster than they cut, so it makes sense to me. Same with drilling: "High speed" is with respect to drilling by hand; patience is a virtue.

Joe