How to Cut & Fasten Cove Molding
Cove trim is used to add a decorative detail to doors, cabinets and furniture. Cove moldings are available in different sizes for your needs and come in stain-grade or paint-grade trim. Stain grade will be milled from one piece of wood in the species of your choice. Paint-grade trim is made of several pieces of wood that are glued together. The do-it-yourself handyman can cut and install cove moldings with ease with the right tools. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape meaure
- Pencil
- Paper
- Cove molding
- Miter saw
- Pneumatic finish nailer
- Finish nails
- Nail set
Instructions
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1
Measure the distance between two points where you want to add a piece of cove trim. Write this dimension down on a piece of paper. Use a tape measure for this step.
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2
Check the angle that the next section of trim will intersect with the other piece. Use a digital angle finder to check the angle. Open the angle finder and align each of the arms with an edge where you want to attach cove molding. Read the angle and write it down on a piece of paper. An angle finder is a hand-held device that provides a digital readout of any angle.
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3
Divide the angle in half. This is the angle that you need to set the miter saw. When both pieces of cove moldings are cut they will make the entire angle. An example would be corner of a door. When the arms of the angle finder are placed along each surface you get a reading of 90 degrees. So you would set the miter saw to 45 degrees for each of the two cuts.
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4
Set the miter saw to the angle you found in Step 3. Lock the saw in this position.
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5
Place the cove molding against the miter saw fence and slowly cut through the molding. This will help to prevent splintering of the wood cove molding.
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6
Measure and mark the cove molding with the measurements that you found in Step 1. This is usually outside-to-outside dimension. Use a tape measure and a pencil for this step.
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7
Repeat Steps 1 through 6 for the remaining pieces of cove molding.
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8
Nail the cove molding in place using a pneumatic finish nailer. Place nails every 12 inches. Add a drop of glue on the end of the miter cut between the different pieces of cove molding. Wipe off any excess glue with a damp rag before it can dry.
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9
Set protruding nails heads with a nail set. Place the tip of a nail set on the nail head that is exposed. Tap the end of the nail set with a hammer to countersink the nail below the wood surface.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a sharp blade in the miter saw to help prevent tearing the wood during the cut.
Wear safety glasses when using the miter saw and finish nailer.
