How To Cut Crown Molding - Cutting Crown Molding Tips

Now that you have your crown molding prepped and laid out it is time to cut it to length. The first piece will be square on both ends. Then each piece until the last will have a corner cut on one end and a square cut on the other. You will have a corner cut on both ends of the last piece.

Get the measurements of each piece you will need and rough cut to length about 6 inches to 12 inches longer. Then mark with the number of the wall it is going to be installed on from your drawing. Doing this will help you stay organized.

Next it is time to cut your corners. On inside corners you will have to do a coping cut. Do your cope cuts first then later when you install you can cut to the final length. By doing this if you mess up your cope you can start over since you left at least 6 inches to 12 inches extra.

Outside corners you can do the opposite way, hold the rough cut piece in place and mark with a pencil in place. Before you cut make sure your saw is set up with the miter angle in the right direction and the piece of molding is also facing the right direction. Make some test cuts and save those pieces as visual guides.

You can hold them up in the corners you are cutting next just to make sure your set up is correct. If you cut a piece with the miter angle in the wrong direction it will be to short now unless you leave 12 inches or more of extra.

Cutting inside and outside corners

Basic Miter Saw (no bevel angle)

This is the easiest way to cut your corners. I would recommend cutting your corners this way even if your saw has a bevel on it. As long as your molding is not to wide.

You are going to hold the molding in the saw on the same angle it is going to be on the wall. By cutting crown molding like this all you need to do is adjust the miter angle from left to right. Take a small piece of your molding and hold it in the saw upside down so that top and bottom of the molding sit flat against the table and fence of the saw.

Imagine the fence of the saw as the wall and the table as the ceiling. Now take a piece scrap wood and clamp or hot glue it to the table of the saw as a guide. Now you know when you place your molding in the saw it is sitting at the proper angle every time. Now every cut you make weather an inside or outside corner the molding will sit in the saw upside down (with the cove against the fence).

Brian Kiernan is a master trim carpenter who has had his own carpentry business in Connecticut for the past 15 years. For more information on how to cut crown molding like a pro visit http://www.Install-Crown-Molding.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Kiernan