How to Cut Crown Molding With a Compound Miter Saw

Crown molding finishes off a room's decor.

Cutting crown molding to fit inside and outside corners can be a difficult task. The use of a compound miter saw allows the woodworker to cut two angles (compound angles) with one cut. Setting the required miter and bevel angles on a compound miter saw produces a precise cut for both inside and outside corners and much facilitates the installation of crown molding.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Crown molding with a 52/38 degree spring angle

Cutting Inside Corners

1. 

   Set the bevel angle of the compound miter saw at 33.85 degrees.

2. 

   Set the miter angle of the saw at 31.62 degrees to the right side of the saw table.

3. 

   Place the crown molding face up with the top of the molding against the fence of the saw table and the waste end facing to the right.

4. Make the cut. Keep the left side of the cut. Waste the right side of the cut. This is inside corner piece "A."

5. 

   Reposition the miter angle to a new position set at 31.62 degrees to the left side of the saw table. Leave the bevel set at 33.85 degrees.

6. 

   Position the crown molding with the bottom of the molding against the table fence and with the waste side to the right of the saw blade. Positioning the bottom of the molding against the fence is opposite the method used for the first cut piece.

7. Make the cut. Save the left side of the cut. Waste the right side of the cut. This is inside corner piece "B."

8. Move inside corner piece "A" into position with the miter cut firmly positioned into the inside corner and nail it into place. Position inside corner piece "B" on the opposite intersecting wall with the miter cut joining the miter cut in inside corner piece "A." Nail it into place.

Cutting Outside Corners

1. Set the bevel angle of the compound miter saw at 33.85 degrees.

2. Set the saw miter at 31.62 degrees left of the saw table.

3. Place the crown molding face up with the bottom of the molding against the fence of the saw table and the waste end facing to the left.

4. Make the cut. Keep the right side of the cut. Waste the left side of the cut. This is outside corner piece "A."

5. Reposition the miter angle to a new position set at 31.62 degrees to the right side of the saw table. Leave the bevel set at 33.85 degrees.

6. Position the crown molding with the top of the molding against the table fence and with the waste side to the left of the saw blade. Positioning the bottom of the molding against the fence is opposite the method used for the first cut piece.

7. Make the cut. Save the right side of the cut. Waste the left side of the cut. This is outside corner piece "B."

8. Position outside corner piece "A" and "B" temporarily in place at the outside corner. After fitting the two miter cuts together, remove piece "B" and nail piece "A" into position. Next, fit and nail piece "B" into position.

Tips & Warnings

• Because corner angles in houses may vary from 90 degrees, pretesting compound miter cuts using scrap material can be beneficial and save time. Use waste material to test angled cuts for fit and adjust if necessary.

• Check every piece of molding to make sure it has the same spring angle, width and thickness or your cuts may be off.

References

• Extreme How To: 13 Pro Tips for Crown Molding