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Baseboard coped edge

13K views 67 replies 9 participants last post by  kreg McMahon 
#1 ·
Yeah. I have worked my way around the room with baseboard. Now I am at a bit of a dilema. I am not sure how to layout this wall. Here is a picture of it. I wanna know where the coped sides should be. Can I have a coped edge on the same piece that is a 45 mitre or should I straight cut that to the wall?

 
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#36 ·
OH NO I CANT "COPE" WITH THIS ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sox: All you need is glue the back of the return pc. There really should not be any "meat" on the coped edge for glue anyway :}:}:}

Jay we have agreed to disagree. I dare say your way is slower and more difficult to do, requires way more refinement and precision. As long as you are not trying to do production work it just make it harder. Doing trim full time, your way will cost you alot of time and money. That said whatever floats your boat is fine.:):wink:
 
#37 ·
Guess what? Done plenty of "production" mini-mcmansions (3-3500 sq.ft. 5 br's, crown all over the place, the same way. I (and I'm guessing you) can measure, cut and install base or crown in an average square room in less than 15 minutes...and all nice and tight :yes:

Now this takes into account tools all set-up (preferably nearby :wink:).
 
#39 ·
Yeah I agree with that. I have never seen it done Jay's way. You don't want 2 sides coped. Plus that is a more difficult fit. You have to be dead on with the measurement.
This is pretty easy to do. I use a stabila laser measurer (LE50) for better speed and accuracy, but it wasn't ever too difficult with a tape either.
 
#43 ·
:no: measure, cut, install. Now remember this is a basic 12 x 12 room (or so) with 9 ft ceilings. 2 sides flat on both ends, 2 sides coped on both ends. Cordless dewalt nailer...boom boom boom. And like I said, tight.

It becomes a game during production work, just to keep from being bored.

Saw station and material set up in the house....new mcmansions, remember.

1 guy:

Measure: 2-3 mins (laser measure)
Cut: 2-3 mins (includes walk to saw station)
Cope 4 cuts: 3-4 minutes (standard 3 5/8" crown)
Install: 5-6 minutes

Total: 13-16 minutes. I've done a ton of this timed with my stopwatch, like I said, production trim can get boring.

I'm not saying by the end of the day a room might not take me 20-25 minutes, but I've done it in under 15 hundreds of times.

Sit and look at your watch for 3 minutes thinking how much you could get done once you're in the groove and you're set up for production. All the crown's directly behind you, all facing the correct way for cutting (upside down and in place).

You've done production trim, right? Myself and another guy would finish 3000 sq. ft. + in 40-50 man hours depending on floor plan, how many pediments, how much wainscoting (just shadow-boxes, remember...mcmansions).

It's not that hard. :no:
 
#45 ·
Jay; unless you are 7' tall with another 7 footer it is going to take almost 10 mins to setup the horses and planks.
If you can do a 12 x 12 room in 15 mins or less than you are the best trimmer on the planet. When I was running trim full time there were 3 of us, 1 cutting and 2 hanging and banging with a hell of a lot of yrs between us and we couldnt do it, so my hats off to ya.:whistling2:
 
#46 ·
4' foot ladder no horses, no planks. Ya gotta move in production trim :yes:.

Front and back sides (with 2 flat/square/butt) ends go in first (usually cut at 1/16" less than measurement so easy to install.

2 side pieces cope to cope. Move ladder to one corner, set the far corner in, nail off my corner after any adjustments, go to far corner, nail after any adjustments, nail the remainder off.

And there were plenty of guys capable of this. It's just not the way you've done, so you find it hard to believe.

I don't have any reason to bs, I'm just telling you what I've personally done many times. :yes:

I'm telling you, your guys, if they have any hustle and like to see how quickly they can accomplish a task can do this, I promise you.
 
#47 ·
Jay,
I can buy it for a room or two maybe. If your doing new work bid to economy standards (most mcmansions since all they really are is spec houses ) with a highly skilled two man crew one guy on stilts the other on a ladder. I would also bet your not overly fussy about the joints in those situations. Doing it that fast consistently I also think the painters investment in caulk is skyrocketing.
 
#48 ·
"Production" trim...that was the discussion, ya gotta move. And the joints were fine. And don't think I'm doing 15 minute rooms all day. It's not a pace that can be sustained, but it kept a little fun in it, trying to beat your best time, just something to stave off the boredom.

I do find it interesting that you don't think good work can be done at a production pace, because I can assure you that it can. If the painters are having to hide things with a bunch of caulk, the builder isn't paying for it, I can guarantee you that.

Oh, and no, no stilts.

Most of the homes had 2 of these pediments, which I normally did, took anywhere from 1 1/4- 1 1/2 hours for the two....do 50 of 'em (pretty much ALL the same) and let me know how long you think it would take.

Pretty simple stuff, that moves right along after you've done a few of the same plan...over and over and over and .... you get my drift.
 

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#50 · (Edited)
No, I do believe good work can be done at a production pace I just didn't believe you could sustain that pace for a prolonged period and do good work. I also don't believe you ran all the crown pictured in those rooms in anywhere near fifteen minutes.

I do completely agree that when doing very similar trim jobs on a consistent basis they do start to become "second nature" as after awhile you develop a formula.

As to how long it would take to trim the openings; that would depend on how much you have prefabricated for them (I would assume if you do several you have prefabricated your plinths and pylons and pre ripped your basic pieces to speed up on site installations). The running trim and crown are pretty basic. The rest is primarily MDF which is pretty easy to cut and shape so I would imagine 1 1/2 hours is pretty close.

I think this thread is getting a little off subject now. If you want to continue the conversation I would suggest we move it to the pro site.
 
#49 ·
This is one entertaining thread!

Soxfan33 if you're still there: You got all the info you needed in posts #2, 3, 5, 17, 20! It will look great!

ARI001: I supported your wisdom way back on post #5. I'd like, just a small cut, of the 57 Bazillion. Maybe I could get a set-up like Jay's!

Skymaster: "follow the bouncing ball..." "I can't COPE with this..." Does this come naturally? I'm going back to read all your previous posts - need a good laugh :laughing:!

If it aint broke - let's fix it anyway!

Paul
 
#52 ·
Davinici: be careful going backwards, dont trip on your SHOE mouldings
Nice Museum you have in town :} Pikes Rock was pretty COOL (groaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan yeah that was a stretch ) :eek:
My daughter lived in Loveland for a few years :yes:

ARI I think we r on the same page.
Jay: So is it safe to think that at the speed you can do all this trim that 1 1/2 to 2 mins per door to hang and trim is a fair time?
Never mind :wink:
 
#54 ·
Davinici: be careful going backwards, dont trip on your SHOE mouldings
Nice Museum you have in town :} Pikes Rock was pretty COOL (groaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan yeah that was a stretch ) :eek:
My daughter lived in Loveland for a few years :yes:

ARI I think we r on the same page.
Jay: So is it safe to think that at the speed you can do all this trim that 1 1/2 to 2 mins per door to hang and trim is a fair time?
Never mind :wink:
Why write it if "never mind"? a bit passive aggressive eh?, you sound like ari, who after saying again he doesn't believe me about something (which he didn't read quite correctly, as I stated above), but then at the end says "this conversation has run its course)....can't have it both ways, throw out a challenge/call someone out and say "that's enough of this". :no:

If you guys want some more explanation, I've got the time.

As far as doors (on these same houses), there were normally 21-22 doors, including 3-4 sets of double doors. Standard 6-8 masonite doors, pre-cased, etc.

Normally on the first day starting at 7:00 a.m., while my guy was setting up the cut station and measuring the upstairs for trim, I'd move the doors to all their locations (with help for the double doors).

Grab the shims (I used the plastic ones, stored in a cut open gallon jug with handle still attached for easy access, also the plastic ons snap off quicker/cleaner than wood ones), toolbelt, plenty of nails, cordless dewalt or paslode, pry bar and go to town.

Doors were shimmed all the way around and closing evenly at stop, all the way around. No bounce at hinges, etc.

I would have all the doors installed by lunch (usually some time between 12-12:30).

So....is this again, yet another impossible feat by SuperCarpenter? Or just someone who likes to hustle while working and always is looking for the most efficient way to do things?

Not that you two seem inclined to listen to real-world experiences, but you can find me here:

St. of Ga licensing site:

https://secure.sos.state.ga.us/myverification/Details.aspx?agency_id=1&license_id=1008477&


Better Business Burea:

http://www.bbb.org/atlanta/business...vices/premier-basements-in-cumming-ga-9001638

National Kitchen and Bath Assocation (NKBA)

http://www.nkba.org/consumer_tools_fap.aspx?zip=30028

As far as production trim techniques, if you haven't read Gary Katz's numerous books, website, dvd's it would do you good.

If either of you would like to call me, feel free. Maybe I can give you some other resources.
 
#60 ·
Apparently, neither can you. I simply responded to your post. I suggested last night we move this to the other site.

I did not doubt that you are a "legitimate" contractor. I am a highly suspicious person and that has served me well both professionally and personally.

Same as here.
 
#62 ·
No further argumentative posts on this thread or any other thread on this site gentlemen. You're way off topic and the discussion has become completely unproductive. If necessary, please review the site rules regarding personal attacks, insults, etc....Otherwise take my word for it.
 
#63 ·
OP,

Copes maximize their visual trickery if the copes face away from the viewer and any gaps that may develop are less visible.

Jay's double coped and sprung in approach has merit as well.

I've done it both ways... no big deal.

As far as the production trim speed pizz'in match goes... it's not relevant in a DIY forum, IMO (that from a production trim guy FWIW... well I used to be a production trim guy... back when they used to build new houses).:jester:

Cheers,

Bass

P.S. Here is a fun video of my last big baseboard job 128 pieces of base and 128 pieces of base cap in just one hallway. Over 100 coped joints for the base cap::tongue_smilie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnURInAWgk
 
#68 ·
jay have you been misbehaving? lol

hey like the song says.... one way or another. it all works great. I have know jay for awhile and he does great work.

it is all in the rock and roll that you listen to... it puts you in the grove when the doors, led zep and floyd are cranking in the house to rock on and cope on!

onward! so back to the beginning what did the guy endup doing?:furious::furious::thumbup:
 
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