Tools to Cut Crown Molding

Measuring Tools

• Properly cutting crown molding requires a measuring tape. The old adage, "Measure twice and cut once" definitely applies to crown molding. Crown molding is expensive, so a wrong cut may cost you some money. Although some installers can measure by simply holding the molding in place and marking it with a pencil, keeping a measuring tape handy is best when you are cutting your crown molding because the angles on crown molding can sometimes be confusing and you may end up marking the molding wrong. Measure the wall, and then mark the molding on a flat surface.

Marking Tools

• After measuring the wall for your crown molding, you will need a pencil to mark the molding for cutting. A sharpened pencil is a necessary, but sometimes overlooked, tool for cutting crown molding. Additionally, you may want to have a chalk line close by if you have an uneven ceiling. The chalk line can be used to create a reference line for the molding. Homeowners with uneven ceilings simply create a level reference line with the chalk line on the wall and measure for the molding from the chalk line on the wall instead of the ceiling.

Cutting Tools

• Two main tools are used for cutting crown molding: a miter saw and a coping saw. A power miter saw can be rented for approximately $30 to $50 a day, as of March 2011, and will save you a lot of time during the installation. The miter saw should make all of the cuts except one cut on the inside corners of the crown molding. The inside corner of the crown molding should be cut with a coping saw. The coping saw is a thin saw blade that cuts away the back part of the molding, which allows the molding to fit into the profile of the adjacent crown molding in the corner.

Smoothing Tools

• A rasp is a file-type tool that is used to smooth the rough cuts made by a coping saw. The rasp only takes a small amount of wood away from the molding at a time, which makes it ideal for slight adjustments to the cuts made on crown molding. Although the rasp is mostly used after coping, it can also be used to smooth or adjust areas of the crown molding that do not fit perfectly with the wall or ceiling.