Cutting crown molding is not one of the easiest tasks to complete for individuals who have had no prior experience working with cutting wood that is made to install at an angle. With a little practice and just a few how-to tricks, cutting crown molding for that perfect fit will soon become a more-or-less easy task.
The main task in installing any crown molding is making sure you get the piece cut to the proper length and right angle. When cutting crown molding, the wider the piece, the harder it is to get the angle cut at the right degree so you have a perfect match. When making this type of cut, remember you cannot just lay the piece down and cut an angle like you would a picture frame, this will not work.
There are a couple of methods that you can use to achieve an accurate cut. The first is a compound cut. When you set up for a compound cut, you will set the miter saw fence at one angle to cut the miter and the saw blade at another angle that will but the bevel. There is a lot of math involved in figuring the exact angle and bevel needed to make a compound cut. If this is something that you would like to pursue, simple purchase a compound angle chart that will give you the right settings for your compound miter saw. Cutting 38 degree crown molding on a miter saw is rather easy as it is so common that most miter saws are equipped with pre-set marks at 31.6 degree miter and 33.9 degree bevel for a 90 degree corner. For other degree crown molding you will either have to figure the proper angles or rely on a compound angle chart.
The easiest way however, is to cut the crown molding on the same angle as how it will be positioned on the wall. A very simple way to accomplish this is to turn the molding upside down and rest the top of the molding on the saw next to the miter fence as it would be placed on the ceiling. Once you have this placed and held, simply make a standard 45 degree cut or 22 ½ degree miters. Make sure you leave the blade perpendicular to the saw when cutting the crown molding in this fashion. It’s much easier to adjust the angle like this when corners are not the perfect 45 or 90 degrees.
When cutting the inside corner you are going to want to use a coped joint. This type of joint with exactly fit the profile of the surface of the crown molding that you are using. To do this, simply cut one piece of molding as if you are making a miter joint. Use this as a gauge because where the line formed by the intersection of the cut plane and the contour surface is exactly where the coping cut will be made. This cope cut is a little tricky but with practice will become easy. You have to use a back-cut angle that matches the front-cut angle that you used before. Just set the angle on your blade to the exact opposite of what you had it set for the initial cut. Make the cut and it will match up to the original piece of molding you already have on the wall. If for some reason there are a few gaps, don’t be afraid to use a little wood putty.
If you have lots of crown molding to cut, make a simple jig that will hold the pieces at the right angle. By doing this, your job will become less frustrating and save you time in the long run. Remember to experiment on a few small pieces first until you get comfortable with how to position the crown molding. Take a small two inch section and cut both an inside and outside cut. Place it in the corner you will be working on to make sure it fits. Once you are comfortable with how the saw works and your ability, you are ready to begin.
Reference:
- www.associatedcontent.com/article/2187903/diy_guide_how_to_cut_crown_molding.html
- www.associatedcontent.com/article/2186237/diy_how_to_cut_crown_molding.html
- www.associatedcontent.com/article/162779/cutting_and_installing_crown_molding.html
