IRA- not true if the proper down feed , rpm , coolant, proper tooth spacing, and configuration- they cut more on the order of a milling function. Blades can run from D2 steel to carbide, diamond, or ceramic tipped Cold saw units are capable of very precise cuts unlike an bandsaw which wavers a bit. I am not talking about the quick and dirty chop saw types which by your comment is what you are familiar with. Which are more of a friction saw than anything else. Note: I am a sharpening shop as well as a small machine shop as such maybe I have just a bit better insight. Most all of the previous comments regarding band saws are spot on- particularly the diddling with guides to get a 90deg cut. The small 4.5x6 import units are especially prone to being out of wack in that area but that doesn't exclude the 7.5x12 units either. As with any machine tool mass is your friend, some of these are pretty lite in that department. Any thing you can do to remove heat at the cutting area is a plus even simply rigging a compressed air feed at that point would be of benefit. 2 types of basic carbon steel bandsaw blades Hard edge Flexback- good to about 500 degs. or Hard edge Hardback good to about 700 degs. these are the least expensive types. There are several different types of BI-metal blades, the most basic is M-2. Course every MFG has there own names for items so you need to read the description of the base material to see what you are buying- won't even get into the various tooth configurations gets to be like buying tires for your car or truck, but yes to another comment about 3-4 teeth in the cut- looking at the smallest cross section of the material to be cut of course. Almost forgot in BI -Metal bandsaw blades 14tpi is about the finest offered now days. Chris