First, spend plenty of time setting it up.
Then set it up again.
If you do not have a manual then get one. All models are practically the same, so any model manual is better than none.
Keep the roller head tracks dry and clean, resin remover and wire wool to clean and graphite spray to lubricate. Never oil the roller head bearings.
Make sure the blade is sharp, not just OK, sharp. These motors are not powerful and will soon tire with a dull blade.
Get used to how the adjustments work, when some wear has occurred the tightening levers come to the end of their travel before the lock is complete, leading to less than perfect clamping into position, these locks and adjustment are infinitely adjustable ( for these purposes anyway )
Incorporate the table with a bench, one side or both for support of longer workpieces.
Rig up a box from ply or MDF to act as a waste trap behind the machine, feed in a 100mm extraction if you can.
Ignore the naysayers who will inevitably tell you that it is impossible to rip timber with the RAS, if it is perfectly true square and plumb with a good blade ( suited to ripping, not an 80 tooth crosscut blade) it will rip perfectly well, albeit slowly given the motor capacity, if any of the above criteria are not met then the blade will bind, burn chatter, lift the work, kickback etc. and it is these circumstances that frighten to death the people who do not or cannot set the machine up.
Blow out the motor and headgear regularly with an airline, these machines make and hold a lot of fine dust.
Fit an emergency knock off switch to the front of the machine if it does not have the dead mans handle type switch.
Mark out some red lines 8 inches either side of the blade path and train yourself never to get your hands in that area whilst the motor is running.
Enjoy it, the RAS is a great machine.
)
