How To Cut Crown Molding
Introduction to cutting Crown Molding
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There are a lot of good sites out there showing you how to cut crown molding. We have taken the time to link to some of the more helpful sites on the web. (If any of these sites would like to have thier link removed please email us and we wil be happy to do so.)
The advantage to cutting crown molding using this method is that no bevel cut is required. Therefore, when adjusting the saw for out of square corners.......
Dewalts Cutting crown molding page
AskTheBuilder.com: Crown molding needs practice to master. Cutting crown molding
means holding it upside down in the saw. Installing crown molding with well ...
ask the builder's "Cutting Crown Molding Without Losing your Mind"
How to cut corner miters when installing Balmer VI crown molding......
Balmer's How to Cut Crown Molding Miters
Chapter 4 in my new book deals with cutting crown molding for a ... Compound Miter
Saw setup for cutting Crown Molding, left-hand piece, inside corner ...
You Can Install Crown Molding Like a Pro!
Cutting The Crown Molding
There are only five different cuts required in almost any crown molding job. You are either cutting a left or right inside or outside corner, or you are making a splice to join two lengths of molding on a long wall. As you stand in the center of a rectangular room and look into one of the four corners, the piece of molding which will be attached to the wall on the left of the corner is an "inside left". If your room has alcoves, or is L-shaped, you will have at least one outside corner.
Not all corners are exactly 90 degrees. By using the TRUE ANGLE protractor, you can check each angle. Divide the number by 2 (the result will invariably be within a degree or two of 45), and set your saw accordingly for a tight fitting joint every time. Let's make some cuts...
Take the 2 foot long template piece you cut earlier and write "Inside" on it. Now you need to cut an inside right on one end of the template, and an inside left on the other. Let's begin with the inside right.
Looking at the saw, swing the blade 45 degrees to your left. Place the molding in the jig ("Bottom's UP!) and place the jig on the bed of the saw. The bulk of the workpiece should be to the left of the blade. Slide the jig so that the cut will remove a minimum of waste. Make sure the jig is NOT IN THE PATH OF THE BLADE. Without turning on the saw, drop the blade to make sure it misses the jig. Adjust if required. Keep your left hand on the molding inside the confines of the jig (where it is safe), and make the cut.
To summarize: On a right inside corner, the blade is 45 degrees to the left, and the bulk of the workpiece is to the left of the blade.
What's really nice is that you don't have to remember that - it's printed right on the jig (along with the orientations for left inside corners and both outside corners).
Now, let's cut a left inside corner on the other end of the template. Looking at the saw, swing the blade 45 degrees to your right. Place the molding in the jig ("Bottom's UP!) and place the jig on the bed of the saw. The bulk of the workpiece should be to the right of the blade. Slide the jig so that the cut will remove a minimum of waste. Make sure the jig is NOT IN THE PATH OF THE BLADE. Without turning on the saw, drop the blade to make sure it misses the jig. Adjust if required. Keep your right hand on the molding inside the confines of the jig (where it is safe), and make the cut.
To summarize: On a left inside corner, the blade is 45 degrees to the right, and the bulk of the workpiece is to the right of the blade.
When you are cutting actual pieces (as opposed to the template), you may have to make a very slight adjustment to the 45 degrees, depending on how close to 90 degrees your room's corners are. But you'll be pleasantly surprised that almost all cuts will end up working quite well with the saw set to 45 degrees. You now know how to make all your inside and outside corner cuts. The only thing left to cover is splicing. In that case, you place the workpiece in the jig ("Bottom's up!"), set the blade at 45 degrees in either direction, and make a cut at one end of one piece of molding. Then, leave the setup exactly the same and make your second cut on the end of a second piece of molding. As long as the angle of the miter saw blade remains the same, you'll have a perfect splice every time.
Choosing a Crown Molding
To see pictures of various crown molding which can be used in applications such as walls, cabinets and furniture, visit the following links:
| Crown Molding Compound Miter Jig | | Now it's easy to create a distinct, stylish look with crown molding! Our innovative new compound miter jig makes it simple to cut difficult compound miters with a standard miter saw. Crown Molding Compound Miter Jig |  |
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