Mitering a corner will typically take 10 minutes per piece, although it may take you a little longer if you’ve never done it before. [2] X Research source This is a great choice if you know your wall is flat. Place a level along the wall near your ceiling to see if it’s perfectly flat. This method will use 2 angle cuts to fit 2 pieces of crown molding together. An inside corner refers to any corner where 2 walls meet at an internal angle, forming a 45-degree angle as you face it. An outside corner is where 2 walls form an external angle, forming a 135-degree angle when you’re facing it.
You can use an adjustable protractor or combination square instead of an angle finder if you’d like. There are digital angle finders that make reading the angle easier.
Keep in mind that you need to mark the proper corner based on the orientation. So if you’re installing the right side of the crown molding in the corner, you need to mark the left end on the back and the right side at the bottom. A bevel cut is any type of cut made at an angle.
Even though you’re cutting the joint to fit a 45-degree angle, you still need to cut the piece to fit the length of your wall. You can skip this step if your molding is already cut to size. You can use a miter template and a handsaw instead of a miter saw if you’d like. A miter saw template is basically a plastic box with an open top that has slots for a handsaw.
Whether you move your blade to the left or right dependent upon what side of the wall you’re cutting for. So if you need the crown molding to meet the inside corner on the right side and you’re cutting from the front, move your blade to the left and vice versa.
You can skip the clamps if you’ve got experience with a miter saw. Simply use your nondominant hand to keep the crown molding flush against the fence. The fence is the straight edge that you use to keep your material still and lined up.
Wear safety goggles, a dust mask, and gloves to protect yourself from sawdust while you’re cutting. Most miter saws have a built-in catcher for sawdust though, so this shouldn’t be too big of an issue. Miter saws are pretty easy to use since the blade is locked in to cut at a specific angle.
The amount of time it takes for you to cope a corner is entirely dependent upon how comfortable you are with a coping saw. For professionals, this may take 10-15 minutes. If you aren’t familiar with a coping saw, this may take you a little longer. [9] X Research source
This is the best method if your walls aren’t perfectly square or your home is older. It’s also more forgiving, since there’s only one cut involved. Since you’re not actually matching 2 pieces together, it’s not important that your cut is accurate. You can always make minor adjustments with your file. The matching piece does not require coping. You only need to make a perpendicular cut to make it flush with the wall. You can do this with a miter, coping, or circular saw.
This will keep you from accidentally cutting into the top of the crown molding. You only need to remove the back.
If you’re really experienced with a saw, you can simply hold the molding down with your nondominant hand while you cut.
Your cut doesn’t need to be exact since you’re going to use a file to make your cut flush. In other words, you’re cutting towards the center of your crown molding and removing the wood behind it.
For some people, it’s easier to work in smaller sections by making vertical cuts into the back of the crown molding. This makes the pieces that you’re cutting more manageable.
Don’t run the file back and forth so quickly that you snap the crown molding. If you do, you’ll need to cut a new piece.
If the angle is correct but the joint won’t sit flush, you need to continue to remove wood from the back of your piece. Use silicone caulk to fill in any gaps after you’ve installed your crown molding.
