How to Cut Crown Mouldings

Crown molding is a great way to add the finishing touch to a room. Most rooms are not perfectly square. Unless you are using plain square molding, installing the trim can be tricky. Cutting crown molding is not difficult if you have the right tools and follow a few steps.

There are three basic joints. A scarf joint is in the middle of a run. It connects two pieces with a single overlapping joint. An outside corner is a corner that measures between 180 and 360 degrees. An inside corner is where two walls meet at angles that measure between 0 and 180 degrees.

There are two different ways to cut crown using a miter saw. A simple miter saw requires that the crown be cut at the same angle as it sits on the wall. The trim also has to be upside down in this method. A more complex miter saw allows you to lay the molding flat on the table, but requires complex tables to figure out the right miter angle and bevel.

Things You'll Need

• Miter saw
• Angle finder
• Coping saw
• Sandpaper

Instructions

Scarf Joint

1. Set the saw for a 45-degree miter cut to the left if working counterclockwise around the room.

2. Place the trim upside down on the table. Leave the piece you're keeping on the same side the blade is turned.

3. Cut the first piece.

4. Leave the blade at the same angle and cut the second piece in the same fashion, but leave the end you're keeping on the other side of the blade.

Outside Corner

1. Use the angle finder to find the correct angle. Divide the total angle in half to get the angle for each piece of trim. If it is a 90-degree angle, each piece will be cut at 45 degrees.

2. Set the angle of the saw. If cutting the right piece, swing the blade to the right.

3. Place the trim upside down on a saw table.

4. Cut the first piece of trim with the majority of the trim to the left of the blade.

5. Change the angle of the blade to the left.

6. Place the trim upside down on the saw and cut the left end of trim.

Inside Corner

1. Use the angle finder to get the correct angle.

2. Cut the first piece straight so that it butts against the wall.

3. Set the saw blade for a 45-degree miter cut to the left if this piece sits on the right side of the joint.

4. Cut the second piece with the majority of the crown to the left of the saw.

5. Use a pencil to darken the profile of the end you just cut.

6. Use a coping saw to cut the wood behind the front of the crown at an angle. Follow the outline of the profile.

7. Sand the end.

References

• This Old House