Rope Moulding

Rope molding, while attractive, is not necessarily cheap.  Rope molding is one of the more expensive moldings out there due to the complexity with which it is manufactured.  You can find rope molding in a variety of wood stocks, such as poplar, pine, oak, cherry, cedar, and others. You can choose a rope molding that complements or blends with the existing woods in the room, or choose to contrast the rope molding against the other wood grains that are prevalent in your design.  Because rope molding is an expensive material to work with, let’s take a look at tips you can use to cut down on waste and make your project even nicer:

Check the spring angle, thickness and width of your rope molding when you purchase it.  The reason that this is necessary is because home stores and building supply outlets purchase their rope molding and other trim products from more than one manufacturer, and there is a difference in milling standards between producers.  Make sure that all of the rope moulding that you purchase is from the same lot when possible, and buy as much as you need at one time in order to get a perfect match.

When working with rope molding, or any molding for that matter, always check the square of your saw before you begin working.  If the square is off by one degree, you will see more errors in the work and your cuts may not match up correctly.  It only takes a moment to make sure that your saw is squared appropriately; likewise, it only takes one rip of the saw to ruin a piece of rope molding as well.

When cutting rope molding, lay the molding flat, facing upwards and use a compound miter saw. If you want to splice the crown or join your crown, a forty-five degree blade tilt and thirty degree miter will work optimally.

Add strength to your project by using wood glue in all the joints of your rope molding.  Caulk joints and bottom and top of your crown.  For nail holes, you can use a shrink resistant spackling compound.  Use a finishing nail gun to make installation go by faster; this will also prevent you from getting dings in the rope molding with a hammer.

Use a twenty-four tooth or higher carbide tipped blade when cutting rope molding.  Also remember that the end cuts do not have to be smooth, they will be hidden when you are finished. It is important that they are cut at the right angle.