band saw speed for metal?

Its very low compared to wood, ie 250-300 FPM when wood is 2800 (stock speed on a Craftsman 12" wood) I've cut 1/8 at 2044 FPM with an 18 tpi bi-metal cobalt blade but was curious why metal takes such slow speed. Does the faster speed just make the teeth bounce off the metal like trying to use a 3/4 holesaw at 1600 RPM? Does the faster blade speed work harden the metal on front of it..I found It would stop cutting sometimes unless I really pushed it past the point and laid into it. Speed reducing a bandsaw down to <300 would involve 2 10" to 2" pulleys in series using a 3500 RPM motor (stock motor was anemic 1/2 horse 1750 RPM) Now I have a 2HP 3500 RPM monster under there.