Making crown molding for your projects saves money and is more enjoyable than using store bought crown molding. You can use scrap material or choose material that is the color and grain of your project. is typically cut on a sliding compound miter saw. However, the do-it-yourself handyman can make the same cuts on a table saw with a good miter gauge and a few tricks.
Instructions
1. Check the miter gauge for accuracy, Use a cheap architectural square to check the the sliding T-square is accurate at 45 degrees. Set the miter gauge to 45 degrees and move it up to the table saw blade. Check that the blade and the saw are accurate by placing the architectural square against that saw blade and the miter gauge. Adjust the gauge until both are flat against the architectural square. Adjust the miter gauge indicator to read 45 degrees exactly. Run two pieces of scrap material through the saw at 45 degrees. Assemble the two pieces and check that it is a tight joint and it is cut a 90-degree angle. Use the architectural triangle for this step.
2. Make a U-shaped box to hold the crown molding. Make the box the size of the crown molding, just as it will go on the wall. The height of the box will be the height of the crown. Set two pieces of plywood together in an L shape and set a small piece of crown against it. Set the crown so that the flat edge of the back and top of the crown are flat against the two pieces of plywood. Mark the top and bottom edges of the crown onto the plywood. Cut the plywood at the two marks, and then glue and clamp them together. The third side of the U will be the same as the opposite side.
3. Attach the U box to the miter gauge so that 12 inches of the box extend past the miter gauge on both sides of the miter gauge. Use wood screws and a power screw driver for this step.
4. Raise the saw blade so that it will cut all the way through the U box. Run the along the miter track and cut the U box at a 45-degree angle to the left and then the right of the saw blade. This will provide a exact 45-degree cut to show where the crown will be cut when it is run through the saw.
5. Mark the crown molding for the length needed onto the crown molding with a pencil. Adjust the crown molding so that it hits exactly on the U box and run it through the table saw. Using the miter gauge jig on the left or right side of the saw blade will allow you to cut the trim for the inside or outside edge of the crown molding.
Tags: miter gauge, , architectural square, crown molding, flat against, pieces plywood