How to Cut Molding Corners

Crown molding is wood decoration that is installed on the tops of your ceiling. The molding hides the location at which the ceiling and wall meet, and is installed at a 45-degree angle. One of the trickiest parts of installing crown molding is cutting the corners. To turn a 90-degree angle, the two adjoining pieces of molding must be cut using a compound miter saw, which creates both a miter cut and bevel cut on each side.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Safety glasses
• Compound miter saw

Instructions

1. Measure the length of the both pieces of molding needed to create a corner cut. Mark the location of the cuts on both sides of the each piece of molding using a pencil.

2. Pull the lever at the bottom of the miter saw toward you, then rotate the entire saw to the left 31.5 degrees.

3. Pull the lever or loosen the nut on the rear of the saw to tilt the entire saw. Tilt the saw to 34.5 degrees, then lock the saw in place.

4. Lay the crown molding flat on the saw table, holding it against the fence with your fingers safely away from the path of the blade. Align the pencil mark with the blade, then squeeze the trigger and move the saw through the wood.

5. Place the second piece of crown molding on the saw table in the same orientation as the first piece, then flip the molding over. Align the pencil mark with the blade, then squeeze the trigger and move the saw through the wood.

Tips & Warnings

• The direction of the cuts largely depends on the direction of the wall, and if the pieces will cover an inner or outer corner. Before making a cut, make test cuts with scrap pieces of molding to ensure that the correct angle and direction cuts are made.

• Always wear eye protection when using a compound miter saw.

References

• This Old House: How To Cut Miters