Nice to see mama helping out, my wife’s always helped on big home projects, from major gut jobs on kitchen and bathrooms. You can also count on them to be there and help!
Oh heck Ted, she jumps in there from time to time. She really likes sawing with the Frontier bandsaw mill most of all. And man o man, she has helped me plane thousands of feet of lumber. She does all my layout work on hardwood floors too !! Makes sure the joints aren't too close. She measures and cuts with the chop saw and lays 'em in line...then I come along and bam bam bam....the easy part !! Now though I have a pneumatic flooring nailer in addition to two manual ones.
Hello Tractorman, I enjoyed your video and I loved seeing that your bride is working with you. Like you, I’ve watched several videos and made several practice runs. I’ve resolved to using a piece of 2” angle iron 17” long for my ladder and I purchased some spring loaded hand clamps to hold the flange of the ladder to the angle iron, it seems to work really good and it’s fast and easy to take the ladder off after the first cut. I pre drilled several holes in the face of the angle iron that fastens to the end of the log so I have several options for fastening. Also, I have a 16” LSL (rim joist) that I use on longer logs so I pre drilled a single hole in the top of that angle iron and just run a single screw to hold the LSL to the angle iron. A person could buy a sheet of 1/2” plywood, rip it length wise into 12” slabs and make their own LVL (laminated veneer lumber) to accomplish the same task. Anyways, great video.
Now that is a super good idea. I still haven't thought seriously how to 'upgrade' my ladder set up...but this is good. Thank you Paul for the input, and thanks for watching and especially for the comment.
Yes, it was a bit tough pushing it without the winch. With the suggestion of another viewer I think the waviness in the cuts was more than likely due to the flimsy ladder. Next time I will do something much different.
Hey Wendell! That Chainsaw mill is a pretty nice device! Clever on-the-fly fix for the oiler too, BTW. As always, it’s good to have the Missus’s commentary and humor in the video!
Hahahaha...thanks for the nice words for the Missus. She's got her brand of spin for sure !! I can't believe after all the trouble I went through to drill the bar only to snap off the little brass fitting... Dang it anyway.
Thanks for the video that was awesome nice piece of lumber that mill would be very handy if you had smaller logs don't think my 250 stihl or 455 husky would be much good on that job thanks for sharing buddy enjoyed watching and thanks to the misses for helping out take care have a great week
Yeah, the 660 grunted a little from time to time, but I think me crowding it caused a lot of it. It's really hard to push with consistent pressure on such a wide log.
Wendell, I used a chainsaw mill and a Husky 2100 to square out pine for a barn, 10x10's, stuff like that. It's a brutal method of squaring out timbers IMO. The chain loosening up could just be the result of heat. 130 some links, all warming up, growing a bit in length, and plus some stretching taking place, it could just be that. Semper Fi! Marine Corps Birthday coming up, I'm going with another Jarhead to my first Marine Corps League Dinner! Haven't celebrated 10 November since 1982!!!
Yes, it's REALLY brutal with oak, especially this diameter Bret. Good point about the chain tension and heat. It's cool to see you're going to the Nov 10th USMC birthday celebration. I've never done that and never even heard of the MC League....I'm wondering now if there's local chapters all over...?? Interesting. Have a great visit at the dinner. I still have most all my uniforms, even some starchies...but I don't think anything would fit...LOL SemperFi.
I slab them and resaw on the bandsaw mill when i can. Using the chainsaw mill i have found a couple things to make smoother cuts. 1 i grind my chains at a 25 degree angle. 2) i try to keep the chain tensioned so it can slap around. 3) try to have one continuous cut through limiting the stopping as much as possible. I put a hand winch on mine but be careful with that. You can stop the saw pretty easy with it and i started breaking springs on my clutch on my 660 when i first used the winch. The loose chain can caused but heat. As it heats up it stretches out.
Good points to ponder Wild Bill....I do have the winch but wanted to start the log by hand just to get the 'feel' of what the 'push' would be like. Yeah, the next day I finished up the cant with the winch and it went much smoother. I did stall the clutch right out of the chute, but quickly slowed the movement of the bar. Its a learning curve, and I am at the beginning of it for sure. Thanks for the thoughts...and have a great day !!
Assuming you"re running a ripping chain. Chatter can be causes by the ladder deflecting slightly. 2x4's are quick to set up but to reduce deflection I generally screw the ladder directly to the top of the tree using all-round and wedge till its straight as an arrow. Great job on your first slab.
I hadn't thought of the problem being with the ladder flexing. It IS a cheap home owner ladder, so I can see that. I will definitely do something different for the next one. Thanks Patrick for the thought.
It's a learning experience for sure Jan. I plan on only using it to prepare the largest logs to fit on the small Frontier mill. The Missus already has plans for a couple of the pieces from this log.
Looks like you were enjoying it. Definitely a lot of work. That's not reflection on the mill. There's nothing easy about logging and working with logs. But thanks for showing how you take your time and do it right as you learn. The important thing is you enjoyed yourself. And you can still count to 10 on your fingers or toes!
Oh heck yeah, I agree. I spent 42 years on the job being serious having a job to get done. Nowadays, the fun part is NOT having to do it if I don't want to do it. Well, for the most part anyway. I tell guys with comments on the buzz saw videos that I count my fingers before and after using it and if they add up the same it was a good day. LOL
I haven't used chainsaw mill but in future i also plan to try it, though my neighbor have super nice band saw mill and they could mill all my lumber i have. That much i know you must sharpen your chain differently. Not 25-30 degrees but 5-10 degrees, then you get smoother boards but still not near to proper saw mill. Nice job and great video!
It IS a lot harder than the bandsaw mill for sure. And yes, I am using a 10* chain for ripping. Thanks for watching and commenting so favorably my friend.
Just WOW Mr Wendell!! What a solid few cuts!! Man that is a huge chunk of wood!! I have to agree with the Mrs, it sure looks great getting squared up!! "I have no idea what I'm doing with the 2x4's but saw someone else do it" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤦🤦🤦🤦 Well sir, looks like you had it dialed in with those boards😉😉😉😉 Ahh, the fitting, that's Nelson luck right there!! All that work to get the oil in, and snapped it off without even really tightening it🤦🤦 Been there many times!! Enjoyed seeing the Mrs back out with ya, and can't wait to see the whole chunk squared up 😉😉😉 Thank you Mr Wendell, awesome video my friend!! Btw, boy that little 2 gallon round gas jug there in the background, sure brings back memories 😉😉 Grandpa had bunches of those 😁😁😁😁
I quickly realized a log this size is better suited to a strong younger man instead of a balding fat worn out old guy !! This mill will work your tail end off, let me tell ya. But I got smarter and installed the winch to finish it up the next day. MUCH easier. The Missus already put the evil eye on some of what came out of this short log....maybe a winter project. LOL Those old gas cans are easy to find at yard sales, but almost never have the rubber spout on them. So I take real good care of this one. Thanks for the energetic and kind words this morning my friend. Take care and have a great day !!
@@tractorman4461 Man yeah, can't wait to see those projects, she has in mind😉😉 Yep the rubber nozzle with the little red plug in the end😉😉 Yes sir, I hope you do as well my friend!! 😁😁👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸
There was a branch that broke out of this tree and it had some DEEP rot that in in a good ways...but you'll see the final slabs in the bandsaw video. There's one in particular that has caught the eye of the Missus for a table. Gonna take some epoxy, but it should be an interesting project.
Thanks, good thought. I know the whole thing with the alaskan mill is a learning curve. But no matter what, its still going to be tough with the larger diameter logs. A little grunt work... thanks again for the positive thoughts. I appreciate the help and suggestions Paul.
Hello from Piqua Ohio! You need to do part two on that big round. Keep up the great videos. You're a friend Stanley Jack. I'd like to see it squared up before you put it on the mill
I DID square it up to put on the mill, but for the life of me don't remember if I recorded it or not... If I did, it will be pretty much a carbon copy of this video. There was a ton of rot coming in from where another branch came out one side and there was a lot that had to come off to get to some decent material. Thanks for the visit all the way from Ohio !! Thanks for the the kudos on the videos too...
Good evening To both of you 👍👌😇 ( Very nice lady voice ) It is a chainsaw Babe !!! 😉👍 HO HO part deux of the great chainsaw massacre's ; ) OUTSTANDING VIDEO SIR and Best Regards to your Lady 🌹🌹👍😇 Cheers
Hahahahaha....Dave, the Missus got a kick out of your comment !! LOL She loves the roses....I never buy her any so the only ones she gets are from you. I do enjoy her visits to the woodpile as well as to the shop. Never a dull moment.
@@RCAFpolarexpress Ahhhh mon ami, in reference to the Missus, I do agree with you whole heartedly !! We DO have a lot of fun doing the things we do. Have a great Sunday Dave .
I think the chain may be binding as the cut closes from the weight. If so, try some wedges to keep the cut open and the weight off the tail end of the chain. Question for anyone here, do they make chains for finish cutting? (Like they make saw blades for different cut profiles?
I probably do need to add the wedges a bit quicker Bob, especially on the thicker and wider slabs. I don't know if there's any variations of chains other than the different tooth angles or types of grind. That being either by round file or square file for the tooth/gullet shape. Good question though.
Hello my friend. Looked painful : ) I wonder if maybe the saw body isn't pulling down on the bar making a slight bow ?. And then there are some chains that just won;t cut straight,to save you. Love your Wife's narration ,of whats going on. Has always Liked and shared. All my very best.
Another viewer suggested that the cheap aluminum ladder might be deflecting and I think that's exactly what is happening. This was a test piece to learn a bit about the mill. So I will have to come up with another option to the cheap ladder. This is a brand new ripping chain with the 10* grind, so I do think the issue was the ladder. Thanks for the observations Bobby, I need to learn all I can to make it easier for the next one.
I dont own any large CC plastic newer chainsaws. However I do have two old magnesiun chainsaws that are gear drive and displace over a 100 CC. I think they might be better for a Chainsaw Mill? Eny Road your are getting the job done. Im just setting here watching you and daydreaming about it.
The only drawback to the heavy old timer saws is having to hold it level to start the bar after the first slab is taken off and the rail is removed. It'd sure pull it just fine though. I bet that old fella has a .404 chain on it too !! I have two old McCullough model 99 power heads with a 48'' two-man guide bar. If I am not mistaken, they are 160cc or darn close to it. Those things have handlebars and a throttle like a rototiller...fixed in position you know. The carbs have float bowls so the saw stays upright and to cut horizontally, a clamp is released and the bar flops down flat. tighten the clamp and give 'er hell with another cut !! Oh, these ripping chains run 5 to 10 degrees on the teeth and not 30 or 35 degrees like a cross cut chain.
Yeah, that made me chuckle a bit too. For some reason she declined the offer to pull the trigger on running THIS sawmill. Hmmmm...she must be going soft on me Doc.
You're the second or third guy that's had that suggestion Daniel. Looking back on how it felt going through the log, I thing that is EXACTLY what was happening. I'll come up with something better for the next one. This log was the test piece for seeing how to use the mill, and after these first two sides, I used the winch to improve the forward movement in a more controlled manner too. That helped, but it didn't change the chatter.
@@tractorman4461 I was wondering if you ran your saw at a 45 deg angle to the log , then the ladder would support more of the guide and might help the bounce problem.
@@danieljohnson9700 I don't know, but with the winch, you can adjust the location of the end of the synthetic rope from left to right, so it'd be easy to adjust the angle to see if that had an effect. But I think the best idea is to come up with a better guide rail setup. Good suggestion, and food for thought though for sure.
Don't bang your wedges in the cut. Place them and one very light tap. Otherwise you are knocking your ladder out of square. It's better to cut some wooden ones with a shallower taper.
This was my first time using the setup. I exchanged the ladder for two 2 1/2" black iron schedule 40 pipes and a pair of cradles. Its all a learning curve. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. Every tip helps me and other viewers as well.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Nice to see mama helping out, my wife’s always helped on big home projects, from major gut jobs on kitchen and bathrooms. You can also count on them to be there and help!
Oh heck Ted, she jumps in there from time to time. She really likes sawing with the Frontier bandsaw mill most of all. And man o man, she has helped me plane thousands of feet of lumber. She does all my layout work on hardwood floors too !! Makes sure the joints aren't too close. She measures and cuts with the chop saw and lays 'em in line...then I come along and bam bam bam....the easy part !! Now though I have a pneumatic flooring nailer in addition to two manual ones.
Hello Tractorman, I enjoyed your video and I loved seeing that your bride is working with you. Like you, I’ve watched several videos and made several practice runs. I’ve resolved to using a piece of 2” angle iron 17” long for my ladder and I purchased some spring loaded hand clamps to hold the flange of the ladder to the angle iron, it seems to work really good and it’s fast and easy to take the ladder off after the first cut. I pre drilled several holes in the face of the angle iron that fastens to the end of the log so I have several options for fastening. Also, I have a 16” LSL (rim joist) that I use on longer logs so I pre drilled a single hole in the top of that angle iron and just run a single screw to hold the LSL to the angle iron. A person could buy a sheet of 1/2” plywood, rip it length wise into 12” slabs and make their own LVL (laminated veneer lumber) to accomplish the same task. Anyways, great video.
Now that is a super good idea. I still haven't thought seriously how to 'upgrade' my ladder set up...but this is good. Thank you Paul for the input, and thanks for watching and especially for the comment.
Man that looked like some hard work. I enjoyed watching it. The 660 was putting in some work for sure.
Yes, it was a bit tough pushing it without the winch. With the suggestion of another viewer I think the waviness in the cuts was more than likely due to the flimsy ladder. Next time I will do something much different.
Hey Wendell! That Chainsaw mill is a pretty nice device! Clever on-the-fly fix for the oiler too, BTW. As always, it’s good to have the Missus’s commentary and humor in the video!
Hahahaha...thanks for the nice words for the Missus. She's got her brand of spin for sure !! I can't believe after all the trouble I went through to drill the bar only to snap off the little brass fitting... Dang it anyway.
THat was a lot of work but now it can go on the other mill......Very well done......CHEERS
Yessir Gator, just a couple more passes and off to the bandsaw it's gonna go !!
Thanks for the video that was awesome nice piece of lumber that mill would be very handy if you had smaller logs don't think my 250 stihl or 455 husky would be much good on that job thanks for sharing buddy enjoyed watching and thanks to the misses for helping out take care have a great week
Yeah, the 660 grunted a little from time to time, but I think me crowding it caused a lot of it. It's really hard to push with consistent pressure on such a wide log.
Wendell, I used a chainsaw mill and a Husky 2100 to square out pine for a barn, 10x10's, stuff like that. It's a brutal method of squaring out timbers IMO. The chain loosening up could just be the result of heat. 130 some links, all warming up, growing a bit in length, and plus some stretching taking place, it could just be that. Semper Fi! Marine Corps Birthday coming up, I'm going with another Jarhead to my first Marine Corps League Dinner! Haven't celebrated 10 November since 1982!!!
Yes, it's REALLY brutal with oak, especially this diameter Bret. Good point about the chain tension and heat. It's cool to see you're going to the Nov 10th USMC birthday celebration. I've never done that and never even heard of the MC League....I'm wondering now if there's local chapters all over...?? Interesting. Have a great visit at the dinner. I still have most all my uniforms, even some starchies...but I don't think anything would fit...LOL SemperFi.
I slab them and resaw on the bandsaw mill when i can. Using the chainsaw mill i have found a couple things to make smoother cuts. 1 i grind my chains at a 25 degree angle. 2) i try to keep the chain tensioned so it can slap around. 3) try to have one continuous cut through limiting the stopping as much as possible. I put a hand winch on mine but be careful with that. You can stop the saw pretty easy with it and i started breaking springs on my clutch on my 660 when i first used the winch.
The loose chain can caused but heat. As it heats up it stretches out.
Good points to ponder Wild Bill....I do have the winch but wanted to start the log by hand just to get the 'feel' of what the 'push' would be like. Yeah, the next day I finished up the cant with the winch and it went much smoother. I did stall the clutch right out of the chute, but quickly slowed the movement of the bar. Its a learning curve, and I am at the beginning of it for sure. Thanks for the thoughts...and have a great day !!
Finally got a chance to watch this getting ready to watch the second one
Great !! Thank you for stopping in and watching.
Assuming you"re running a ripping chain. Chatter can be causes by the ladder deflecting slightly. 2x4's are quick to set up but to reduce deflection I generally screw the ladder directly to the top of the tree using all-round and wedge till its straight as an arrow. Great job on your first slab.
I hadn't thought of the problem being with the ladder flexing. It IS a cheap home owner ladder, so I can see that. I will definitely do something different for the next one. Thanks Patrick for the thought.
Good show my friends, me with no experience can only say you guys going big, totally out my comfort zone, the wood will finish up beautifully
It's a learning experience for sure Jan. I plan on only using it to prepare the largest logs to fit on the small Frontier mill. The Missus already has plans for a couple of the pieces from this log.
Looks like you were enjoying it. Definitely a lot of work. That's not reflection on the mill. There's nothing easy about logging and working with logs. But thanks for showing how you take your time and do it right as you learn. The important thing is you enjoyed yourself. And you can still count to 10 on your fingers or toes!
Oh heck yeah, I agree. I spent 42 years on the job being serious having a job to get done. Nowadays, the fun part is NOT having to do it if I don't want to do it. Well, for the most part anyway. I tell guys with comments on the buzz saw videos that I count my fingers before and after using it and if they add up the same it was a good day. LOL
I haven't used chainsaw mill but in future i also plan to try it, though my neighbor have super nice band saw mill and they could mill all my lumber i have. That much i know you must sharpen your chain differently. Not 25-30 degrees but 5-10 degrees, then you get smoother boards but still not near to proper saw mill. Nice job and great video!
It IS a lot harder than the bandsaw mill for sure. And yes, I am using a 10* chain for ripping. Thanks for watching and commenting so favorably my friend.
Just WOW Mr Wendell!! What a solid few cuts!! Man that is a huge chunk of wood!! I have to agree with the Mrs, it sure looks great getting squared up!! "I have no idea what I'm doing with the 2x4's but saw someone else do it" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤦🤦🤦🤦 Well sir, looks like you had it dialed in with those boards😉😉😉😉 Ahh, the fitting, that's Nelson luck right there!! All that work to get the oil in, and snapped it off without even really tightening it🤦🤦 Been there many times!! Enjoyed seeing the Mrs back out with ya, and can't wait to see the whole chunk squared up 😉😉😉 Thank you Mr Wendell, awesome video my friend!! Btw, boy that little 2 gallon round gas jug there in the background, sure brings back memories 😉😉 Grandpa had bunches of those 😁😁😁😁
I quickly realized a log this size is better suited to a strong younger man instead of a balding fat worn out old guy !! This mill will work your tail end off, let me tell ya. But I got smarter and installed the winch to finish it up the next day. MUCH easier. The Missus already put the evil eye on some of what came out of this short log....maybe a winter project. LOL Those old gas cans are easy to find at yard sales, but almost never have the rubber spout on them. So I take real good care of this one. Thanks for the energetic and kind words this morning my friend. Take care and have a great day !!
@@tractorman4461 Man yeah, can't wait to see those projects, she has in mind😉😉 Yep the rubber nozzle with the little red plug in the end😉😉 Yes sir, I hope you do as well my friend!! 😁😁👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸
Oh and those boards would make some awesome tables.
There was a branch that broke out of this tree and it had some DEEP rot that in in a good ways...but you'll see the final slabs in the bandsaw video. There's one in particular that has caught the eye of the Missus for a table. Gonna take some epoxy, but it should be an interesting project.
Thanks for the videos looks like fun.
It was a lot of fun, but it sure will strain an old guys guts Timothy !! The winch helped a lot on the other two sides.
Hello again Tractorman, one other thing…you can use a rafter square off the surface you just cut to square the next cut to that surface.
Thanks, good thought. I know the whole thing with the alaskan mill is a learning curve. But no matter what, its still going to be tough with the larger diameter logs. A little grunt work... thanks again for the positive thoughts. I appreciate the help and suggestions Paul.
Hopefully my thoughts or ideas were helpful. I’ve enjoyed watching your videos.
Hello from Piqua Ohio! You need to do part two on that big round. Keep up the great videos. You're a friend Stanley Jack. I'd like to see it squared up before you put it on the mill
I DID square it up to put on the mill, but for the life of me don't remember if I recorded it or not... If I did, it will be pretty much a carbon copy of this video. There was a ton of rot coming in from where another branch came out one side and there was a lot that had to come off to get to some decent material. Thanks for the visit all the way from Ohio !! Thanks for the the kudos on the videos too...
Good evening To both of you 👍👌😇 ( Very nice lady voice ) It is a chainsaw Babe !!! 😉👍 HO HO part deux of the great chainsaw massacre's ; ) OUTSTANDING VIDEO SIR and Best Regards to your Lady 🌹🌹👍😇 Cheers
Hahahahaha....Dave, the Missus got a kick out of your comment !! LOL She loves the roses....I never buy her any so the only ones she gets are from you. I do enjoy her visits to the woodpile as well as to the shop. Never a dull moment.
@@tractorman4461 Outstanding team work Sir I hope that you realize that YOU are the luckiest man on earth Cheers
@@RCAFpolarexpress Ahhhh mon ami, in reference to the Missus, I do agree with you whole heartedly !! We DO have a lot of fun doing the things we do. Have a great Sunday Dave .
For a light duty chainsaw mill it worked pretty good!
Yes, its light and really cheap. I don't anticipate excessive use unless the larger logs keep coming my way.
I think the chain may be binding as the cut closes from the weight. If so, try some wedges to keep the cut open and the weight off the tail end of the chain. Question for anyone here, do they make chains for finish cutting? (Like they make saw blades for different cut profiles?
I probably do need to add the wedges a bit quicker Bob, especially on the thicker and wider slabs. I don't know if there's any variations of chains other than the different tooth angles or types of grind. That being either by round file or square file for the tooth/gullet shape. Good question though.
Hello my friend. Looked painful : ) I wonder if maybe the saw body isn't pulling down on the bar making a slight bow ?. And then there are some chains that just won;t cut straight,to save you. Love your Wife's narration ,of whats going on. Has always Liked and shared. All my very best.
Another viewer suggested that the cheap aluminum ladder might be deflecting and I think that's exactly what is happening. This was a test piece to learn a bit about the mill. So I will have to come up with another option to the cheap ladder. This is a brand new ripping chain with the 10* grind, so I do think the issue was the ladder. Thanks for the observations Bobby, I need to learn all I can to make it easier for the next one.
I dont own any large CC plastic newer chainsaws. However I do have two old magnesiun chainsaws that are gear drive and displace over a 100 CC. I think they might be better for a Chainsaw Mill? Eny Road your are getting the job done. Im just setting here watching you and daydreaming about it.
The only drawback to the heavy old timer saws is having to hold it level to start the bar after the first slab is taken off and the rail is removed. It'd sure pull it just fine though. I bet that old fella has a .404 chain on it too !! I have two old McCullough model 99 power heads with a 48'' two-man guide bar. If I am not mistaken, they are 160cc or darn close to it. Those things have handlebars and a throttle like a rototiller...fixed in position you know. The carbs have float bowls so the saw stays upright and to cut horizontally, a clamp is released and the bar flops down flat. tighten the clamp and give 'er hell with another cut !! Oh, these ripping chains run 5 to 10 degrees on the teeth and not 30 or 35 degrees like a cross cut chain.
I just have one question: why didn't The Missus run this mill? Lol.
Another great video. As you learn, we learn.
Hahahaha Rick.....I think she's going soft on me or something. I offered and she declined. Maybe next time I'll offer to start the 660 for her....LOL
When the Mrs. refers to a husband's fine chainsaw work as, "chainsaw massacre". Ha ha ha ha!!!
Doc
Yeah, that made me chuckle a bit too. For some reason she declined the offer to pull the trigger on running THIS sawmill. Hmmmm...she must be going soft on me Doc.
buena maquina
Hace un buen trabajo. Instalo un cabrestante en el siguiente video.
You are a handy guy, and I bet you can build a better saw guide, that one seems to bounce.
You're the second or third guy that's had that suggestion Daniel. Looking back on how it felt going through the log, I thing that is EXACTLY what was happening. I'll come up with something better for the next one. This log was the test piece for seeing how to use the mill, and after these first two sides, I used the winch to improve the forward movement in a more controlled manner too. That helped, but it didn't change the chatter.
@@tractorman4461 I was wondering if you ran your saw at a 45 deg angle to the log , then the ladder would support more of the guide and might help the bounce problem.
@@danieljohnson9700 I don't know, but with the winch, you can adjust the location of the end of the synthetic rope from left to right, so it'd be easy to adjust the angle to see if that had an effect. But I think the best idea is to come up with a better guide rail setup. Good suggestion, and food for thought though for sure.
Don't bang your wedges in the cut. Place them and one very light tap. Otherwise you are knocking your ladder out of square. It's better to cut some wooden ones with a shallower taper.
This was my first time using the setup. I exchanged the ladder for two 2 1/2" black iron schedule 40 pipes and a pair of cradles. Its all a learning curve. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. Every tip helps me and other viewers as well.