Ask the Expert
IF YOU HAVE A PRODUCT RELATED QUESTION, PLEASE USE OUR CONTACT US FORM FOR AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. THIS SECTION IS RESERVED FOR GENERAL WOODWORKING RELATED QUESTIONS.
Michael Van Pelt is the founder of American Sycamore Woodworker’s Retreat. He has a reputation as the tool guru. Mike has been in woodworking for over thirty years. His knowledge of tools comes from his many years of intertwining experience in the woodworking industry. Mike’s experiences include being active as an Industrial Arts Teacher, professional instructor of power machinery and tool techniques, tool sales, management and owner of woodworking tool retail store, Delta Machinery representative and technical advisory.
If you have a question for Michael, choose the Submit Question button to the right by November 30th. We will send you a reply with Mike's response in mid-December and then post it to this page for other members to view. You never know...someone else may have the same question
IF YOU HAVE A PRODUCT RELATED QUESTION, PLEASE USE OUR CONTACT US FORM FOR AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. THIS SECTION IS RESERVED FOR GENERAL WOODWORKING RELATED QUESTIONS.
Listed below are questions and answers that have already been submitted.
Questions
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6/24/2009
Cutting Inside Crown
Answer provided by Mike Van Pelt
| Q. |
I would like to put up crown molding in my house but don't know how to cut inside corners. Can you help me? |
| A. |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PlJiJ2afKU
A picture is worth a thousand words. Please follow the
above link and you will find an excellent video on cutting crown moulding. It is
done very well and as you will see it will make cutting crown a joy! Good luck
and happy woodworking to you.
|
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4/12/2009
Cutting Crown Moulding - Miter & Bevel Settings Chart
Cutting Crown Moulding - Miter & Bevel Settings Chart
DOWNLOAD FILE AS PDF NOW
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3/26/2009
Crown Molding Corner Miters
Answer provided by Mike Van Pelt
| Q. |
I am building an entertainment center, which will have crown molding trim around the top. This crown, purchased at a big-box store, is not perfect the two faces intended to mate with the cabinet are not precisely 90 degrees to one another (i.e., are not perpendicular). Wanting to minimize the gap visible from below at the expense of a slightly greater gap as seen from straight on in front (thinking the cabinet height would prevent it being too noticeable), I did not cut my front piece of crown at 45 degrees; rather, I adjusted it slightly to allow for my idea. Now that this first piece is nailed and glued to the face of my cabinet, I find I can't properly cut the side pieces to match or fit the profile of the front piece. When viewed from the side, the opening behind the molding is not a perfect right triangle (90º + 45º + 45º). One of the 45º angles is something less while the other is something more. Said another way, the bottom edge of the molding is too high on the face of the cabinet. Although I did this intentionally (to hide the fact that the mating edges of the molding were not cut perfectly square), thinking I could install the side pieces likewise, I found the profiles won't match up. This has halted my project in its tracks! What would be the best way to recover? |
| A. |
Ok! Let’s start over. Go find out where cabinet shops
and custom home builders in your area buy their moldings. Stay away from the
big boxes. They store it wrong and most is twisted before you even get it home.
There are some great pictures and even a video or two
on the correct way to cut and install crown moulding. Do a “goggle” search on
“Cutting Crown Moulding.” You will find many sites that will be helpful and
better illustrated that I can do here. I also suggest that you learn to cope
the moulding for crisp fitting joints. I like using a quality coping saw. I
preach here at the school on how important that your case goods are square…….if
not problems just keep creeping up. Good luck and sorry for your frustration.
Your entertainment center will be worth it when you get it all
finished.
|
[ Back To Main ]
6/20/2008
Bay Window Crown Molding
Answer provided by Mike Heavey
| Q. |
I need to know the dimensions for a bay window, to cut crown molding. I also need to know what to set the compound on as well |
| A. |
There are two ways to install crown molding. Trying to explain this in this type of forum would not work to well. Here are two web sites that will explain the how-to of each, then pick the one that works for you. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/crown-molding, the second one is,www.CutNCrown.com
Good Luck Mike |
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6/20/2008
Cutting Corner Molding
Answer provided by Mike Heavey
| Q. |
Hi, I am installing corner molding and am having trouble figuring out how to place the molding on the miter saw to cut it. I am able to cut the first corner but I am having a difficult time figuring out how I should place the molding on the saw for the second corner. Any help you may be able to offer will be greatly appreciated. |
| A. |
Are you referring to crown molding. If so try this. There is two ways to install crown molding. Trying to explain this in this type of forum would not work to well. Here are two web sites that will explain the how-to of each, then pick the one that works for you. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/crown-molding, the second one is,www.CutNCrown.com
Good Luck Mike |
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2/19/2008
Cutting Crown Molding
Answer provided by Mike Heavey
| Q. |
What is the easiest way to cut crown molding? I
have a miter saw, not compound. |
| A. |
I know of 2 ways you can accomplish this. One is a product
call CUT-N-CROWN, which is a
3-jig system you use with your miter saw to cut any angle. They have
an internet site you can visit that explains how it works and it’s cost. The web
site is, www.cutncrown.com. The second is to build a simple jig for you miter saw. Wood Magazine issue 174
Dec./Jan. 2006/2007 has an article “CONQUER CROWN MOULDING” that takes you step
by step how to do this. Go to www.woodmagazine.com . Click on wood
index. Type in the article. Look
at both ways, and then you can make a informed decision.
|
[ Back To Main ]
2/19/2008
Cutting Crown
Answer provided by Mike Van Pelt
| Q. |
I
am installing crown moulding for the first time. My problem is, how do I cut
the cap for the end of a straight run. |
| A. |
Take
a look at www.cutncrown.com great
product and there is a great deal of information as well as some tricks and
techniques on cutting crown moulding. A
picture is worth a 1000 words they say. |
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2/15/2008
Installing Crown Molding
Answer provided by Scott Phillips
| Q. |
I'm
trying to install 45 degree crown molding but I can't get the angle right where
the ceiling rises at 20 degrees from the horizontal. How do I calculate the
angle? |
| A. |
See one of these
two web sites for instructions:
josephfusco.org/articles/crown/moulding/crownscript
Altereagle.com/4_how_to_insta |
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2/15/2008
Cutting Ceiling Trim
Answer provided by Scott Phillips
| Q. |
I
have the 12" compound miter saw (Model 36-322) I live in a Mfg Home - the
walls are at 90o There is a 5 degree angle on one side of the ceiling. I'm
having trouble cutting the angle of the trim, to meet in the corner with a 45
degree angle. What should I set my saw
at, and what sequence do I cut the angles? The 5 degree angle and the 45 degree
for the corner. |
| A. |
I
like simple solutions. Is this molding painted? If so - fill the void with
latex matching caulk and call it a day. If not, review the Delta miter saw
manual for the exact angle you need. A chart in the manual lists every
conceivable angle combination. |
[ Back To Main ]
2/14/2008
Cutting Crown Moulding
Answer provided by Scott Phillips
| Q. |
How
do I cut crown Moulding on a Mitre saw? |
| A. |
Set
the compound angles so all molding is laying flat to the table and tight to the
fence. The angles for most moldings will be Miter 31.62 and bevel 34. If the molding
is “Sprung” at an unusual angle see the Delta miter saw manual for all other
angles. |
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2/14/2008
Cutting Crown Moulding
Answer provided by Scott Phillips
| Q. |
What are the different settings on
my compound miter saw for cutting crown moulding of different inside and
outside angles?
|
| A. |
It depends on the spring angle of the crown
molding. Delta’s miter saw manual lists all of these angles. Worth checking
out! Look for the blue diamonds on the degree scales. These work for 95% of
typical molding in the US. |
[ Back To Main ]
1/29/2008
Crown Molding
Answer provided by Scott Phillips
| Q. |
How do I install
crown molding onto a concrete wall and concrete ceiling?
|
| A. |
Use
firing strips and fasten them to the stone work with tap con screws. You will
need to pre-drill screw pilot holes through the strips and into the concrete.
Tap cons are blue screws designed to work in cement. Use a cordless drill to
drive the screws and mount the strips behind the molding. Then use the right
length nail to fasten the molding to the wood strips. It takes time but works
fine! |
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8/6/2007
Crown Moulding
Answer provided by Mike Van Pelt
| Q: |
I WOULD
LIKE TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE ANGLES, OF THE US, (52/38 DEGREES) AND
THE CANADIAN AT
(45/45DEGREES) FOR CROWN MOULDING.
|
| A: |
Your
question certainly became an interesting topic amongst my professional
woodworking friends. Since you stumped me on this one I turned to David Sochar
of Acorn Woodworks. www.acornwoodworks.com
David
Sochar’s reply; I have never heard of Canadian vs US standards in crown
molding.
Crown
molding is not standardized at any angles. The WM series of White Pine molding
pattern books from the 60's came as close as possible to setting standards.
Today in our area, Koetter is the mega producer, and I don't work with their
stuff at all, so don't know where they are, angle-wise. The better styles are
less than 90 degrees total - 44/44, or 50/36 for instance, for better fit
to wacky walls, and shifting up or down.
If one is
making their own crown molding, one can make it whatever angles one wants. The
52/38 presents a more vertical face in most situations - looks wider - than a
45/45. 45/45 is reversible, for better or worse. I would recommend
a back cut angle, again for the walls, etc.
Thanks for
the question Peter; we hope to hear from you in the future.
|
[ Back To Main ]
6/26/2007
Crown Around 45 Degree Corners
Answer provided by Scott Phillips
| Q: |
Please help I need to cut crown to fit a 45 degree corner
cabinet. I can’t find anything to tell me what to set my saw at.
|
| A: |
Here is the answer. Go to one of three sites. Try
issi1.com/corwin/crown.html or josephfusco.org/articles/crown_moulding/crownscript.html
and altereagle.com/4_how_to_insta.html
Be ready to cut a few test pieces to get the length
right. Always cut it a little long then trim it to fit perfectly. |
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