How to Make Compound Miter Cuts on Crown Molding

Compound miter cuts are cuts you make at an angle to fit around corners. No matter what type of molding you are cutting, the most important part of a compound miter cut is getting the proper angle measurement. Crown molding is one of the trickier types of molding to cut. You install it along the top of the wall where the wall meets the ceiling. Crown molding is available in many different styles and sizes, but you can cut all of these in exactly the same way.

Protractor
Tape measure
Miter saw
Medium grade sandpaper
Safety goggles

Instructions

- 1
  Line up a protractor at the first angle on the wall. Write down the angle measurement. Run a tape measure along the first piece of crown molding and draw a pencil line straight across the piece at the cut location.
- 2
  Turn the crown molding upside down and slide it into the miter saw. Push the thicker end up against the fence and slide the thin end against the base of the saw. Turn the blade of the saw to half of the angle measurement. For example, if the angle measurement is 90 degrees, turn the blade of the saw to 45 degrees in either direction.
- 3
  Line up the blade with the mark on the molding and turn on the saw. Pull down on the lever and bring the blade straight through the crown molding. Remove the molding from the saw and set it aside for future use.
- 4
  Measure and mark the second piece of molding. Turn it upside down and slide it into the saw just like the previous piece. Since the angle measures 90 degrees, turn the blade of the saw to 45 degrees in the opposite direction of the first cut and line up the blade with the mark. Cut through this piece as you did with the previous one.
- 5
  Sand down the ends of both pieces with medium grade sandpaper where you cut them, and smooth out the edges. Butt the two pieces together in the corner of the room to verify they fit together properly.

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