Finishing a cabinet with crown molding takes it from looking like a plain box to a detailed furniture look. It is an easy and inexpensive way to add value to even the cheapest cabinets. While many crown moldings can be purchased ready made, there are times when a custom look is called for. Building your own crown molding is a great way to make use of available materials, or add that high end custom touch. All you need is a little imagination and you can make your own custom crown molding.
Instructions
Designing the Crown
1. Sketch out the size and type of crown you want on your cabinets. Remember that scale matters a 3 by 3 crown molding is about as big as most kitchen cabinets need.
2. Build the crown base from ½ inch pine 3 inches wide. Work in 8 foot lengths. Rout any detail you like in the edge of each board before assembly. Be sure to clamp your work down and run the router clockwise -right to left- to avoid chipping. Nail two lengths of the pine together along their unrouted edges to form an L. The inside measurement will be 2 ½ inches on one side and 3 inches on the other.
3. Choose a 1 or 2 inch cove molding or base shoe with a detail you like. Run a bead of glue down the back on both outside edges and place it in the inside corner of the L. Nail it in place.
4. If you want more detail a small bead or rope molding can be added at the top or bottom of the L. Allow the glue to dry and fill all nail holes with wood putty, Sand down the putty by hand being careful not to flatten fragile details in the molding.
5. Stain or paint the molding to match the cabinet before installing.To install, simply cut to length with a miter saw, run a bead of construction adhesive down the back, and tack in place with a nail every foot or so.
Tags: , detail like, down back
