How to Miter Cut Crown Molding Efficiently

Miter cutting crown molding can be a frustrating task because it appears hard to translate the angles needed based on the shape of the crown molding. Crown molding is actually a triangular shaped molding that sits at an angle to the wall and ceiling. It does not fit into the traditional 90 degree angles that most tools are adjusted to for making cuts- and this makes crown molding difficult to miter. I have gone through plenty of good pieces of crown trying to get the proper angle. Here is how you can do it and avoid wasting your expensive wood to get the right cut.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• miter saw
• miter box (optional if you do not have a miter saw)
• carpenter square

1. 
    
   Crown Molding Profile

   If you compare Crown Molding to Casing and Baseboard Molding, you will immediately notice that the Casing and Baseboard Molding have a flat bottom and profile face - making it easy to rest on a miter saw fence or platform and cut. Crown Molding has a triangular shape that does not allow it to be easily placed inside a miter box or up against a miter saw fence for cutting. See image for details.

2. 
    

   Traditionally, you would place baseboard molding up against the back fence of a miter saw or miter box when cutting it to translate angles. Conversely, you would lay casing flat against the platform of the miter saw or miter box when cutting it to translate the angles. See image below for reference. When cutting crown molding, you do not want to do either of these, as it will not accurately translate the angle you are looking to achieve.

3. 
    
   Cutting Crown Modling

   To get accurate corner cuts and miters on crown molding, you have to hold the crown molding in the miter box or on the miter saw at the same angle as it will be on the wall. This means that the shoulders of the crown molding - the parts that touch the wall and ceiling will be touching the miter box or miter saw fence and platform. The flat back of the crown molding should not touch the miter box or miter saw at all! See the image for details. The platform and rear fence of the miter box or miter saw can be though of as the wall and ceiling that you are cutting the molding for.

4. 
    
   Miter cut crown molding

   Once you have the crown molding in place, you can cut 45 degree angle to make your corner, or cut the angle you need on your project. (note, fingers look closer than they actually are due to camera angle - always practice safe cutting habits and keep fingers out of the cutting zone.

[autumn1234567]

on 11/12/2009 I'm strugglin' with the molding right now, it looked so easy on HGTV. These tips were exactly what I was looking for! 5*