Three suggestions for the band saw:
1. The blade guides are critical. If they allow the blade to wander, you'll never have enough control. There are many solutions from new blocks to expensive bearings.
2. Your wood band saw turns too fast but, if you purchase a 12" pulley for the saw end and as small a pulley for the motor side as the shaft will allow, it will slow down. The ratio of the radii will tell exactly how much if you want to know.
3. What I've found is that it is the blade which is most important. Using a fairly thin bi-metal blade, I cut everything but stainless. Those blades aren't cheap (plan on $60 per) but worth every penny in my opinion. It is easy enough to find a chart which recommends the best tooth pattern and number of teeth per inch for different materials. I like a wavy blade myself and 3/8" gets to the inside of a lot of curves.

Probably stuff you already knew but there it is. Best of luck.