How to Make Crown Molding Cuts

You'll use three different types of cuts for crown molding. The first is the scarfe joint cut that you use to join two pieces of crown molding seamlessly on long runs. The second is the mitered corner used to connect the crown molding on outside corners. The third cut is for inside corners, and it's the coped joint. Once you learn how to do these three cuts, you're ready to tackling the job of installing crown molding.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Miter saw
• Pencil
• Angle measuring tool
• Tape measure
• Coping saw
• Molding

Scarfe Joints

1. Find the distance from the closest stud to your inside wall. You need to center the joint on the stud for a good place to nail the two pieces of molding together.

2. Set your miter saw for a 45 degree angle. This joint uses two 45-degree angles cut from opposite sides so one overlaps the other and forms one continuous smooth surface with the seam hidden. Cut away the top of one piece of crown molding and the bottom of the other for a flat fit of the two.

3. Push the first board up against the fence from the left hand side and make your cut on the right end of the board.

4. Remain at the same angle on the miter but this time, put the board in from the right hand side. Cut the left side of the board.

5. Check the cut by butting the two together. The undercut board should fit seamlessly with the one on the bottom.

Coped Joints

6. Square off the end of the first piece of molding at a 90-degree angle. Fit this piece tightly into the corner on the left side and cope the other board for the right side for the inside corner.

7. Take a measurement for the next piece of molding from the corner as though you were going to butt it up to there.

8. Set your miter for a 45 degree angle and put the backside of the crown molding against the fence. Cut the molding.

9. Outline the edge where the finished surface meets the raw interior wood you just cut. Use a pencil. This helps you see it clearly when you cut the board.

10. Cut away the raw interior wood at the pencil line with a coping saw and just leave the outside of the crown molding. With the excess wood removed, the crown molding butts against the left side with a tight seam.
    
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Mitered Corners

11. Take a measurement of the outside corners. (Normally they're 90 degrees.) An angle measuring tool is great for this task.

12. Use the measurement you just found and divide it by two. This is the angle you'll cut each board.

13. Adjust the miter saw for the angle. If the angle was 90 degrees, then you'll set the miter to a 45 (90 divided by 2).

14. Cut the first piece with the blade on the left and cut it at the 45.

15. Place the second board against the fence. This time set the miter to a 45 on the other side. When you cut this piece of crown molding, the two should fit so close that the joint is almost seamless.