If you have ever marveled at the lavish crown moldings in the interior of bungalows and condominiums, it is time you knew how it can be done with remarkable ease. Contrary to what you might have imagined, crown molding is not as tough as quantum physics.
Indeed, the quality of crown molding is always part of the general aesthetics of the house. Anybody who understands the operations of a miter saw can execute a perfect crown molding task with astonishing success. Trendy and stylish houses have always featured perfectly finished crown moldings, which enhances their aesthetic appeal. Home builders may have varying strategies of crown molding.
However, certain details will always remain common to all of them. The outside corner, the inside corner, and the straight run are the three main areas that define the quality of crown molding. The following details should get you somewhere.
Making a Scarf Joint
In many cases, you will find that the molding cannot reach the inside corners of both ends. The only way out is to add some length to the molding. This is where a scarf joint becomes necessary. A good scarf joint requires precision and sharp focus during the cutting process.
You have to begin with holding your molding in the proper orientation with the ceiling and the wall. It is important to maintain the same orientation in the three other cuts that will follow.
The next step is to tip the mold in such a way that it is upside down in positioning before holding it against the miter saw.
Anybody who understands how to cut crown molding knows that the bed of the miter saw and its fence are crucial for a successful task. The two should be considered as the wall and the ceiling for the crown molding.
Completing the Scarf Joint – Holding the Mold Against the Miter Saw
You have to hold the mold in such a way that the fence of the saw becomes the wall whereas the bed represents the ceiling. The next important move is to hold the mold tightly against the saw as you prepare for cutting.
At this point, you have to slide the mold towards the saw and hold it in place before you make the first cut. The molding is moved a second time for a sister cut. When the two cuts are held together, you have your scarf joint. A scarf joint is a critical part of crown molding as it helps in enhancing the quality of the results.
Making the Outside Corner
From the very start, you have to prepare your mind for the delicate task of making a flawless tight miter. The first step is to set the saw 45 degrees towards the left. You then hold the mold in place and make a graceful first cut. After this step, you have to realign the saw 45 degrees in the opposite direction for the right cut. These two simple steps will have helped you to achieve an outside corner.
In order to see the quality of the results, just hold the two cuts in an appropriate joining position. Making the outside corner requires proper adjustment of the angles and a firm hold of the mold against the machine. Any clumsy move during the cutting process can easily compromise the quality of the results. Therefore, ultimate precision is necessary at every step of the process.
The Final Step – Making the Inside Corner
The inside corner of crown molding is usually accomplished by making two main cuts. There is the first cut, which is followed by the second cut commonly referred to as an inside miter cut. One major problem with making the inside corner is that the two pieces may not fit easily.
In order to make them fit, you have to remove all the wood from the edge. You then remove the wood behind the miter lines. Perhaps, the only other thing you should know is coping a joint in preparation for crown molding. The following steps are necessary:
- Hold your molding and create a miter-cut at the end of its length.
- Darken the edge of your molding’s mitered end using a pencil.
- Use your coping saw to cut along the dark edge while angling the blade as you follow the molding’s curve.
- Use a round file or a sand paper to smooth out the molding’s rough edge.
- Fix the two pieces together to come up with a perfect inside corner.
Generally, these simple steps are all that any determined learner can use to make a perfect crown molding. It cannot get any simpler than this.