Molding Angles

Molding Angles

Cutting crown molding angles can be complicated and fairly challenging, but it’s worth learning some basic principles to add this elegant decorative touch to any room.  This type of molding is placed between the ceiling and the wall.  Crown molding angles can be on the inside or the outside of a corner, but the techniques for cutting each are basically similar.

It helps to start with a less ambitious project to get some practice in cutting molding angles correctly.  The primary tools you’ll need are a chop saw, or compound miter saw, and a coping saw.  The miter saw will make the 45-degree angle cuts required for creating molding angles.

The coping saw will cut an angle that will fit over a square-cut end of an adjacent piece.  This will create the visual effect of a 90-degree angle inside corner.  A scarf joint is another way to join segments on a long expanse of wall.  This is done by cutting the crown molding pieces at opposite 45-degree angles so they form a perfect seam.

Crown molding angles must be cut with the molding propped up against the saw fence. You should always use scrap material to pretest since molding angles will be difficult to set precisely.

Cutting Inside and Outside Corners

To cut an inside corner, coped joints must be used to hide the joint between the two pieces of molding.  The first length is cut straight and butted to the corner directly.  The second piece is then cut on a 45-degree angle.  Hold the bottom edge of the molding against the bottom back edge of the saw base and back plate.  Then, rotate the saw to a 45-degree angle and cut toward the inside of the piece.  The material on the back of the molding is cut away allowing the profile or front edge to slide tightly up to the profile of the first piece.

An outside corner is a mitered joint.  For an outside corner, simply cut the angle toward the outside of the molding.

Joining Molding in Middle of a Wall

Place the molding flat against the back plate and set it at a 45-degree angle to the inside on the first piece of molding.  For the second piece, and make the 45-degree angle cut to the outside.

If you can master the tricks of cutting molding angles, you can add that special touch to your home.