Bandsaw "drop" speed

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I just bought a Delta horizontal bandsaw.  The instructions say to set the spring-loaded tensioner for the speed that the blade drops so that its not too fast or too slow.  What the heck is "too fast" or "too slow"?  What should I be looking for?
Reply:It's really about the same way that you pick a feedrate when hand feeding stock on a vertical bandsaw... you don't want to feed so fast that you're distorting the blade,  lugging the saw down, or creating tons of friction and heat, and you don't want to feed so slow that you're not cutting and making chips.It's almost kind of a "by ear" thing on smaller saws - you can usually tell when a blade's found its sweet spot, cutting-wise.You could try to calculate the rpm versus the length of the blade and figure surface feet per minute based on the material you're cutting...  but I think trial and error will show you where you need to be on this one.
Reply:blade speed is most important SFPM than feed ratehttp://www.doall.nl/pages/startenglish.htm
Reply:You can get yourself a hydraulic actuator from surplus center for like $10 and use that if you want.
Reply:Willy;I'm guessing that your bandsaw is the same as the popular 4 X 6 chicom saws.On small bandsaws, feed rate is not of as much concern as blade speed, and tooth pitch.You see a lot of articles on hydraulic feeds, etc. for these small saws. I think there a waste of effort. get a good blade, and run it at an appropiate speed. I've said before, if your going to do a lot of metalworking. Get a copy  of "MACHINERY'S HANDBOOK". It has references for blade speeds, how to figure feet per minute blade speed, and many other things.the tooth pitch of your blade will depend on what the thickness is of the material your cutting. You want at least two or three teeth cutting at all times. I settled on a 14TPI blade on mine, which I feel is a good compromise. I bought a 100' roll of Starrett flexback blade stock. and braze my own blades. (do a search on bandsaw blades). I get a lot of cutting out of the Starrett material.Does you saw have a three speed pulley setup? If it does, the middle pulley gives you the right speed for most applications.
Reply:Willy,A good rule of thumb for TPI is to have at least three teeth in contact with the stock at all times during the cut.  A 14 TPI band is good for all but real thin stock, like .090 wall tube.  When I get that thin, I switch to an 18 TPI band - saves you from breaking teeth.If you're getting a nice pile of steel chips that are'nt blue from heat, your feed rate is right.Be well.hankj
Reply:Thanks for all of the great info.  I do have a 14 TPI blade and I do have the blade speed set for mild steel (120 FPM, if I remember right).  I'll keep all your advice in mind while I cut away.