Make Cove Moulding

Cove molding is a versatile molding that is used as a trim in furniture and homes. It has a concave front side and the back corners are milled at a 45-degree angle so that it fits to cover wall/ceiling joints, for example. You can make your own custom molding with on a router table. Making your own allows you to determine the profile of the molding and use the species of wood that you want so that the molding will match your project. Be sure to make extra lengths of molding to account for repairs, maintenance and errors in measuring or cutting.

Instructions

1. Insert the core-box bit into the router. Adjust the height of the bit to cut the desired profile into the face of the wood and lock it in place. Adjust the fence so that the bit will cut the profile in the center of the 2-inch width of the board.

2. Place the board with one 2-by-96-inch side flat against the table of the router and one 1-by-96-inch side against the fence. Guide the board through the router in a steady motion at a speed just fast enough to allow the blade to cut the wood. Remove the board one the cut is complete. Flip the board over so that the routed cove is facing up and place the 2-by-96-inch side flat against the table. Repeat this step for each of the boards needed for the project.

3. Remove the core-box bit and insert a molding edge bit. The molding edge bit cuts a 45-degree angle on molding. Adjust the height of the bit to cut the profile into the corner edges of the molding. Adjust the fence so that the full profile is cut in the corners of the molding.

4. Run the molding with the routed cove side up through the saw to rout one back corner edge. Rotate the board horizontally 180-degrees and rout the opposite back corner edge. You should now have a cove routed on the front 2-by-96-inch side and 45-degree angled corner edges on the back 2-by-96-inch side. Repeat this process for each board.

5. Sand each side of the cove molding boards with a fine-grit sanding pad in the same direction as the wood grain until it they are smooth.

Tags: 2-by-96-inch side, 2-by-96-inch side flat, 45-degree angle, Adjust fence, Adjust fence that, Adjust height