How to Cut Crown Molding with a Coping Saw

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Knowing how to cut crown molding with a coping saw is an important skill to have if you plan to work with crown molding. A coping saw, as well as a miter saw, are the popular tools that are used to make the required cuts in your crown molding. Crown molding cuts have to be done carefully and with precision in order for the crown molding to fit perfectly on the wall.

Coping skills are an older or traditional technique for cutting crown molding that has by and large been replaced by power tools and modern methods of cutting the crown molding. It can still be accomplished by the do-it-yourselfer who likes the challenge of using more traditional methods of making cuts to their crown molding. This how-to article will discuss the tools, steps, and materials needed to make coping cuts to your crown molding.

Purchase a Coping Saw

You will need to purchase a coping saw in order to make the coping saw cuts in your crown molding. You should be able to locate this type of saw at a home improvement center. For a more traditional coping saw that would be a commonly used piece in making these cuts in crown molding, go to an antique tool store in order to locate and purchase an older model. The coping saw is the most essential tool that you need to make the coping saw cuts.

Set the Crown Molding in a Vice

Use a couple of pieces of scrap wood to surround the piece of crown molding as you set it inside a vice. The scrap wood is necessary to keep from damaging the wood and leaving marks that may be unsightly when installing the crown molding.

Most carpenters will use a miter saw in order to make the cuts in the crown molding. A corner that consists of 90 degrees will be mitered at 45 degrees in order to create the necessary joint. Although this is acceptable over time the mitered joint will separate, requiring the use of caulk and putty to seal the crack. The coping saw cut can help you achieve a truer angle cut that will require less maintenance than the miter saw cut.

Create the Coping Cut

With the crown molding set in the vice, make the cut on the corner of the crown molding. The cut should allow you to butt the piece against the wall and adjoin another molding piece against it to form a joint.

Install the Molding

Complete each of the coping saw cuts that need to be made on the crown molding. Once you have completed the last cut, take the pieces of crown molding, and using a nailer, affix the pieces to the wall. Work carefully to hide any nail holes and make sure that the pieces of crown molding are help flush to the wall so that they do not come loose.