How to Cut Out the Back of a Miter Cut With a Coping Saw
Miter cuts allow two pieces of wall trim (or other material) to butt to each other and fit around a corner. Generally, two mitered cuts of 45 degrees are needed to make a 90-degree corner. This often works better in theory than in practice, especially for inside corners, which are seldom square. You can adjust your mitered cuts to traverse such corners, but it's often better to use a coping cut. This is a method of carving out one piece so it fits around the other (instead of against it), eliminating the need for an accurate miter. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Cut one piece of trim for one side of the corner, setting the miter saw for a straight 90-degree cut across the trim. Set the piece in place with the straight-cut end of it butting into the adjacent wall.
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Set the other piece of trim on your miter saw standing in the position it will go on the wall. Swivel the blade to 45 degrees inward (so the front of the board will be shorter than the back). Make the cut. It should create an edge of exposed wood that's visible as you look at the board straight on.
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Use your coping saw to cut away the exposed wood from the miter cut, holding the saw perpendicular to the trim and following the shape of the surface where it meets the exposed wood. What's left should be a carved-out profile of the contours of the trim.
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Set the coped trim in place in the corner, setting the carved-out profile against the face of the first piece that you installed. It should fit over it snugly. Install the second board with trim nails.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear protective goggles when using your miter saw.
