coping with crown Part Two

Coping with Crown I was killing some time watching some videos at YouTube the other day and came across a bunch of videos about "How to install Crown Molding", I felt many missed the mark. Crown molding has gotten a reputation of being difficult to install and I admit I have seen plenty of poorly installed crown, but with just a little bit of understanding and guidance almost anyone can do an admirable job. Part of the problem is just figuring out how to cut the molding. That topic will be dealt with in another video. You seem to be stymied before you even get started and your anxiety level goes through the roof. Another part of the problem is making the coped joint. Once you get the cutting part figured out you now have to use a joinery technique that you may have only heard of before. You might be tempted to use a mitered joint, don't do it. This short video concentrates on making the coped joint. The coped joint is the proper joint for any inside corner, and especially useful for crown molding due to it's forgiving nature and ability to make minor corrections by rolling the joint (he, he, heh, rolling the joint, we need to talk about that later also).
Anyways, . .... The coping saw is probably one of the cheapest and safest tools you will buy. $20.00 will get you a good saw frame and spare pack of blades and the best thing is no cord. Kind of a one tasker tool, but it does that task so well and quickly. The learning curve is very flat, 4-5 practice run and you will be accomplished, 10-15 and you will be cutting copes like a pro. The only negative about using a coping saw is that it takes more skill to cope a straight line than a curved line and someone did say that their arm got tired(OH ,MY!). It is also clean to use (as are most hand tools, not throwing a lot of dust and chips all over the place), and portable (did I mention, no cord). I made a cope on some ¾ X 3 5/8 in. poplar crown molding in about 1 minute and 15 seconds using my coping saw. I have used the same saw to install 5 ½ in. oak crown with similar results. I have heard of people suggesting to use and even using a jig saw, a grinder or table saw and my first reaction was "Are you crazy?'. I thought about it and after a while I just figured, that they just didn't have a coping saw to use and were just trying to GET ERR DONE., I have been there and done that, sometimes you just have to be resourceful. If you are a novice woodworker DO NOT even consider using one of the other tools. And if you are a professional, you are not.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• crown molding
• woodworking
• coping crown molding
• cutting crown molding

[dryhter]

Everyone has to find what works for themselves.

[starrod85]

beautifully done, i've always used a table saw to cut mine. I would cut an opposite slope with the wood running away from the molding then take my table saw and just cut strips along the raw wood until i would reach my molding face. Yes, this method is very, very dangerous and very time consuming since i still have to take a minute or two to sand everything down. i just dont have the hand-eye cordination for using a coping saw. I need more patience and pratice. Beautiful work man.