Techniques for the Construction of House Trim

Profile Cutting

• While beginner woodworkers can get away with using a jigsaw, drill and staple gun for most projects, constructing trim requires a table saw. This is a much more precise tool. The table saw not only saws large pieces of wood, giving the pieces crisp, precise straight lines, but can also be set up as a router to cut various profiles onto the boards. Profiles are the lines, indents and carvings that add character to the trim.

Mitering

• Another necessary technique for trim, especially crown molding and window molding, is mitering. Mitering is the skill of cutting complementary 45 degree angles into the edges of the boards. Mitering allows a seamless trim around corners. Proper mitering also lines up the wood to prevent it from pulling away.

Shaving

• When cutting large amounts out of the wood for dramatic trims, it’s necessary to understand the basics of shaving. Shaving involves slowly removing thin layers of the wood instead of cutting the wood away in one large swipe. Shaving prevents cracking and malforming in the wood and ensures a smoother final result.

Sanding

• No matter how well you shave the wood, everyone must sand down the trim before finishing it. For trim, the most useful and effective sander to have is a vibrating sander with an edge piece. This sander is shaped like an iron and works just as well to get into tiny corners. As with any wood project, start sanding with a 90-grit paper to remove any splinters and imperfections. Next, switch to a 180-grit to remove the scratches left by the 90-grit and you’re ready to paint.