Woodworking Tips from Pop…

So you want to install crown molding the easy way!

 The first step would be to learn how to properly use a coping saw!  

The first question Pop would ask anybody applying for a job is whether or not they could use a coping saw. Only the dummies would lie about it and get run off!

 The coping saw is a small hand saw used by professional finish carpenters for making fine deep cuts when fitting moldings. The object is to cut the backside of the profile so two pieces will fit on an inside corner perfectly! No Caulk or glue. Once the proper technique is mastered, coping moldings and other various woodworking cuts will be a cinch. You’ll save time, material and a whole lot of aggravation dealing with out of square corners that are almost guaranteed to be in every house.

A coping saw can be purchased with a pack of blades at most local home improvement centers for about the same price as a twelve pack of Guinness. I just wouldn’t recommend drinking the Guinness until after the job is done. Or you’ll probably need more than caulk!

  When coping a piece of crown, you’re actually hand cutting the profile of the molding so it fits into an identical piece.  This does take a little practice so be patient, get some scraps and go to work, You won’t regret it.

The first step is to get the blade pointed in the right direction. I’ve witnessed two different methods of coping over the years, (the push to cut or the pull to cut). I’m a push man myself!

Here’s why!

The object of using any tool is to let the tool do the work. By standing above the work piece and using gravity to help push the blade through the wood to make the cut instead of pulling, you end up with a much easier and more controllable cut.(Let the blade do the cutting)

Pushing the blade into the cut also directs the burrs towards the inside of the piece and not to the finished outside. This will eliminate any need for sanding and leave a much finer cope.

When coping crown you don’t have to cope it in all one pass either, the object is to get the cope as accurate as possible and rushing will only lead to a lousy joint that needs filling. I’ve found that it’s easier to cut the piece out in sections and work towards intersecting points, rather then trying to round corners and bend the blade all to hell.

Undercutting is also key to getting tight coped joints. The more you undercut, the more forgiving out of square walls and wavy ceilings will be. Another trick to getting tight crown joints is to not nail the molding in the corners until both pieces are fitted. This will give a little play in the corner for twisting the crown molding into place. Click on some of the photos for more tips