OPERATION
CUTTING CROWN MOLDING
See Figures 14a, 14b, and 14c.
The compound miter saw is an excellent tool choice for cutting crown molding. In order to fit properly, crown molding must be compound mitered with extreme accuracy.
The two contact surfaces on a piece of crown molding that fit flat against the ceiling and the wall of a room are at angles that, when added together, equal exactly 90°. Most crown molding has a top rear angle (the section that fits flat against the ceiling) of 52° and a bottom rear angle (the section that fits flat against the wall) of 38°.
Follow these tips when cutting crown molding.
■Lay the molding with its broad back surface flat on the miter table and against the fence.
■When setting the bevel and miter angles for compound miters, remember that the settings are interdependent; changing one angle changes the other angle as well.
■Keep in mind that the angles for crown moldings are very precise and difficult to set. Since it is very easy for these angles to shift, you should first test all settings on scrap molding.
■Most walls do not have angles of exactly 90°; therefore, you will need to fine tune your settings.
■The bevel angle should be set at 33.85° and the miter angle should be set at 31.62° either right or left, depending on the desired cut for the application. See the chart below for correct angle settings and correct positioning of crown molding on miter table.
■The settings in the chart below can be used for cutting All Standard (U.S.) crown molding with 52° and 38° angles. The crown molding is placed flat on the miter table using the compound features of your miter saw.
10
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| 8 | 9 | 1 2 |
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| 7 | 1 2 |
| |
| 6 | 1 2 |
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5 | 1 2 |
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|
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1 2 |
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4 | 1 2 |
3 | 1 2 |
2 | 1 2 |
1 | 1 2 |
5 4
30
15
30
Fig. 14a
52° | CEILING | |
38° | FENCE | |
| ||
W | TOP EDGE AGAINST FENCE = | |
LEFT SIDE, INSIDE CORNER | ||
A | ||
RIGHT SIDE, OUTSIDE CORNER | ||
L | ||
| ||
L |
|
Fig. 14b
FENCE INSIDE OUTSIDE
CORNER CORNER
BOTTOM EDGE AGAINST FENCE =
RIGHT SIDE, INSIDE CORNER
LEFT SIDE, OUTSIDE CORNER
Fig. 14c
Bevel
AngleType of Cut
Setting
Left side, inside corner
1. Top edge of molding against fence
33.85° 2. Miter table set right 31.62°
3. Save left end of cut
Right side, inside corner
1. Bottom edge of molding against fence
33.85° 2. Miter table set left 31.62°
3. Save left end of cut
Left side, outside corner
1. Bottom edge of molding against fence
33.85° 2. Miter table set left 31.62°
3. Save right end of cut
Right side, outside corner
1. Top edge of molding against fence
33.85° 2. Miter table set right 31.62°
3. Save right end of cut
18