There are basically two types of of band saws, two or three wheel. When buying a saw for the first time, the three wheel saw appears to be the best bet. I gives heaps of throat (distance of cut between the down traveling cutting side and the upward return side of the blade) for cutting larger widths of wood.
Motors The main reason a woodturner buys a bandsaw is to cut round turning blanks and rip down billets from logs. Ripping especially requires horsepower (kilowatts for you young fellas). A saw with less than a 1hp (750 watts) is going to struggle with green hard wood blanks. I have re-powered my small Taiwanese saw with a one horse motor and it is still barely adequate. Second bit of advice look for more than 1hp if possible. Some band saws have a series of pulleys to allow different ratios. This can increase the power of the saw but this is at the expense of cutting speed. I am unable to recommend a cutting speed but the speed suggested by the manufacturer for cutting aluminum is about right for hardwood.
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