Miter & Bevel Angles Used in Cutting Crown Moulding

Miter Angle

• In woodworking, a miter cut refers to a cut that is not a square, or a cut that is not at a 90-degree angle. A miter angle refers to the specific number of degrees needed to make a miter cut. The exact miter angles needed for installing crown molding depend on various factors, such as the angle of the wall and corner and the type of molding being installed.

Bevel Angle

• A bevel angle when used regarding woodworking refers to the angle of cuts that create slants in the wood’s thickness. While a miter cut is relative to the material’s 90-degree edge, bevel cuts are relative to the wood’s face. The bevel angle for a piece of crown molding lets the woodworker know how much depth of the wood needs removing.

Compound Miter Saw

• A compound miter saw allows makes both the needed miter and bevel angle cuts. The saw has an adjustable blade that tilts in the desired direction for making bevel cuts. Set the blade in position by locking in the bevel angle on a scale at the saw’s rear. Set the miter angle on a scale at the front.

Calculation Tables

• The calculations for obtaining the proper miter and bevel angles for a particular piece of crown molding are complex. Among other considerations, know the spring angle, the angle between the molding and the back of the wall. Because of the complexities involved in determining crown molding angles, precalculated tables are widely available helping woodworkers get the needed miter and bevel angles. For instance, for a wall corner at a 90-degree angle and molding with a spring angle of 45/45, the miter angle would be 35.26 degrees and the bevel angle would be 30 degrees. Find such tables online or in woodworking reference books.