What Is Band Saw SFM?
- Band saws are used in a wide variety of applications, including woodworking, metal working and meat cutting. Different applications require different blade speeds, based primarily on the material being cut. The speed of the blade is expressed in surface feet per minute or SFM. The texture, density, hardness and porosity of the material to be cut determine the tooth pattern and blade speed required on the band saw.
- Woodworking band saws operate at speeds between 1,500 and 8,000 SFM. The upper end of that range represents large industrial and power-fed equipment. Band saws found in home workshops generally operate at 3,000 SFM.
- Metal working band saws typically offer a range of speeds to suit material type and thickness. A typical range would be from 80 SFM to 260 SFM, with professional equipment offering speeds up to 580 SFM.
- Meat cutting saws operate at speeds comparable to the middle range of woodworking saws, with typical speeds between 3,500 and 4,200 SFM.
- If you have an older saw without documentation and would like to know its SFM, you can calculate it with the following information and formula. Measure the wheel diameter of the driven wheel (usually the lower wheel). Use a tachometer or revolution counter to determine the speed of the driven wheel. If the pulleys on the motor and driven wheel are the same size, and the motor speed is indicated on the nameplate, the driven wheel speed is the same as the motor speed and you will not need the tachometer or revolution counter. The wheel circumference is equal to the diameter multiplied by .262. The SFM is equal to the circumference multiplied by the speed. Put simply, RPM x Diameter x .262 = SFM.