Hi Scott, look at all that advice... Here's a little more: Long boards can be hard to control. You can let the first one or two strips go thin in sections if that helps to straighten the board out. Make sure you're focusing your attention on the cut; not the thin strips coming out the other side of the blade - keep your eyes in front of the blade. Go at a speed that is comfortable to you but too slow can start to cause problems. I like to get a little momentum going. Hold the board further away from the saw so you have more leverage - you'll be surprised how well you can maintain alignment when you're standing 6 or 8 feet away. You don't have much control if you're standing right next to the saw. Get a helper to support (but not guide) the material as it comes off. And, relax a little and have fun with it. Don't worry if you have a few throwaway strips.