How to Join Wood Trim With a Miter Box
A quality trim job is the finishing touch to any building project, and the defining measure of a good trim job is the fit of the corner joints. Tight fitting trim joints require the use of a miter box. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Power miter saw with fine tooth blade---preferably 80 tooth
- or
- Hand miter box with fine tooth miter hand saw or dove tooth saw
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Pneumatic finish nailer or finishing hammer and 2 or 2 1/2 inch finish nails
Instructions
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Installation
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1
The first step in cutting accurate joints is making accurate measurements. Carefully measure all trim edges. Always measure to the outside edge, and note whether you are going around the outside of a corner or the inside of a corner.
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2
Carefully measure and mark your trim to the dimensions you measured in step one. For inside corners the longest side will be the back of the trim. For outside corners the longest side will be the outside of the trim.
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3
Carefully hold the trim flat against the back of the miter saw or box and cut the angle. If you are doing a square corner, than each angle should be 45 degrees.
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4
If you are joining two pieces on a long run then cut one outside 45 degree angle, and one inside 45 degree angle where they meet. This will give you a much smoother looking joint than a square butt joint.
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5
Put the cut trim pieces in place and check measurements. There is an art to this that takes a little practice. Don't be discouraged if it takes you a few tries to get it perfect. The more you do the more accurate you will become. Remember that often the wall you are trimming out may not be perfectly square, which can cause your trim angle to appear off. Don't despair. The trim should be fairly flexible. Hold the corners tight and nail them first. Then you can flex the trim in to fit the wall. Unfortunately, if the wall is extremely off, you may need to re-cut the trim to fit the angle of the wall.
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6
Always make sure the trim gets nailed into solid wood behind the wall. If the nails are only in sheetrock, if may look okay at the moment, but it will quickly come loose and fall off.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you are having trouble with wall angles, a simple angle measuring device is available at most hardware stores.
Power tools can be dangerous. If using a power miter saw, use hearing protection and follow all appropriate safety measures.
