My husband and myself are big into do it yourself ideas, remodeling and wood crafting. We are very excited to be involved with others who share the same interest. Doing a total remodel on our bathroom currently and are having a really difficult time on installing the crown molding at the ceiling. Everyone has told us to cut everything at a 45degree angle but that isn’t working. Does anyone have any suggestions that might work. Have to note that there is nothing plum or square in our house. Thanks and looking forward to sharing.
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On inside corners, run one piece all the way into the corner. Cut the other piece at a 45, then shave the back along the cut line so it fits tight. On the outside corners, it helps if you can determine the actual angle and then cut each piece half of that angle–if it’s 92 degrees, you need 46 on each side or whatever.
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You need a protractor for this, and also an angle finder. They sell these ready-made, but putting two sticks together with a nail at one end to act as a hi nge works too. Use the angle finder to determine the REAL angle of each corner, then plug half that value into your saw. If you have a 91 degree angle corner, you need to put 45.5 degrees (eyeballing it gets you close, and sandpaper gets you exact) into the saw. Compound miter saws usually are good to 47 degrees, which should cover any out-of-square situation you encounter. If you don’t have a saw of your own yet, Hitachi makes one with a digital angle indicator.
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When cutting crown molding, the molding has to be set at an angle, called compound angle. The easiest way to get the right compound is to determine at what angle the molding will be installed, and use a table saw sled, or use it on a radial saw, THEN set 45°, or half the total angle, whatever it is.
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I think one can loose their mind trying to install the crown moldings especially in an older house. Nothing is square or straight! Before building our current home we lived in a 96 year old house so we have had some experience with it. One trick is to install one wall of crown molding wall to wall. Then do your 45deg angle cut on the next walls piece and now undercut the back side of the molding so all that is left is the finished surface with little behind it at its joining end. Place it in place and slide it over to the first (wall to wall) piece of molding. If you see and large gaps you can shave off some of the molding materials to get it to match. If you observe very little gaps nail it up and caulk it. Now go to the next corner!
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My husband thinks what he use to do was turn it backwards toward himself.. He said send him a picture any lay it up the way it should go and maybe he can then tell you what you are not doing right. He said it is sometimes tricky, its like a dress pattern had to sometimes be turned the opposite direction when being cut out. Angles are not always for amateurer, but you will learn as you try..just don’t waste the expensive wood you have there. Go to some place like Lowe’s and ask questions.