[ponch37300]

I'm going to be installing some crown molding on some beams I put up in my kitchen. It's primed mdf with those little squares on it.

I would like to put it so the top of the crown molding is even with the top of the beam. The only support is going to be nailing the bottom of the crown to the beam so I assume I'll need to add some blocking of some kind to fasten the top of the crown to the beam. I'm thinking of putting some rope lighting in the crown if I can. What is the best way to support the crown? Should I rip some 2x4s on a 45 degree angle?

Also do I need to worry about how the little square notches line up in the corner or will they be fine if the square notches aren't perfectly lined up after coping the corners?

Thanks for your help.

 

[skymaster]

"little squares" they are called Dental as in teeth :}:}:}:}
Yes on ripping a filler behind the crown. If you can make it work, make the filler low enuf from the top of the crown and use it as a shelf for your lighting:yes:
YES to get the dental to lineup in the corners is gonna be reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaallllllll fun. Be very sure you have figured in a goodly amount of extra material. You have to get each measurement then lay the tape on the trim and move it around until you find a point that makes everything work as best as possible. DO NOT let the frustration get to you.

 

[ponch37300]

Thanks for the help skymaster. Not sure how I'm going to measure to line the dental(thanks for the correct term!) to line up since it is in the middle of the crown so won't know where the dental will line up until after I cut the crown? Maybe I can make some templates so I can set them on the crown and see how the dental will line up. Hopefully if I make some peices of crown already cut and coped I will be able to see how the dental will line up before I cut it. Hopefully I won't waste to many peices

 

[Gary in WA]

Click on the books with: Limited preview. The Fine Homebuilding ones are good.

http://books.google.com/books?ei=8h...result&q=cut+crown+moulding&btnG=Search+Books

I found this helper useful: http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuil...arpenter/coping-crown-molding-techniques.aspx Be safe, G

 

[skymaster]

Ponch: what I mean is this: measure the length of a pc, them take that your tape to a pc and see where the overall mark is,related to the dental, then move the tape down the length of the pc untill you have a starting and ending point the works out on the dental. That should confues even more huh?

 

[ponch37300]

I think I understand but what I was saying is that the dental is in the middle of the trim so it will be a different measurement than the overall measurement because of the angle. I'm thinking I'll cut a couple of peices of crown and cope them and use them as a template so I can take an overall measurement and use the template to transfer the angle to the peice so I can see where the cut lands on the dental. Also I wouldn't know where the coped peice of crown will land on the peice already up, so I won't know where the peice will end up on the dental. Think if I have a couple scrape peices that are coped to hold up there I will be able to see where the next peice will land. Thanks

 

[Gary in WA]

Skymaster gave you the best and easiest way to figure the crown, hope that works well for you.

Hint: dental is pertaining to teeth, it's an adjective. Dentil is the small projections usually on a cornice in carpentry, and on crown. It is a noun.
You may get a funny look from someone who knows. Be safe, G

 

[skymaster]

Oh Yes you are going to have fun fun fun till your daddy takes your miterbox away :}:}:}:}:}:} Another hint, You will have to make compromises so if I have an outside corner then it takes precedant over the inside. I will make sure there is 1/2 tooth on each outside face and take whatever happens in the corner.
Also try this; take an extra pc of any given length, measure its overall, then cut Left and right inside miters, now measure along the top of the DENTAL , this will give you the amount of cutback to your coping points.
For talking sake say it is 1 1/2 shorter than the overall, Now you know that you can figure your dental to b 3/4 inch back from the square end of an overall measurement. This will allow you to better "see" how the dental cuts will be

 

[skymaster]

Gbar: I stand corrected :}:}:} :laughing: most of da time I call em toofs

 

[ponch37300]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I have all inside corners so I'm going to make some scrape templates so I can get the "square notches" to line up and know where to cut them. Think it will make things alot easier. I ordered a bosch digital protractor and a jig to hold the crown in my miter box so will wait for them to arrive and then give it a shot and see how everything turns out. Did alot of reading on crown molding last night and think I have a pretty good idea. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[ponch37300]

When I cut for an inside corner and hold the crown at an angle on the miter box do I cut it at 45 degrees to get the line to cope? Thanks

 

[skymaster]

Ponch: IF i repeat IF the crown is small enuf to use a miterbox to cut it vertically than YES: Cut it UPSIDE DOWN and at 45. Than cope.

 

[ponch37300]

skymaster, I have a 12" bosch compound miter box and I bought this jig to hold the crown upside down on an angle so the saw will cut it. I bought some books and have been reading up on installing crown. Thanks again for the help.

 

[skymaster]

Cool, just for fun check the Bosch website and see if they have "crown stops" as optional parts for your saw, if so GET EM.
My old Dewalt does and they are almost, I said almost as good as sex. ROFLOL . Just remember the crown MUST be cut UPSIDE DOWN or it will not work with 45's. Another trick for ya: Double stick tape; set a short pc of crown in the box and get it set perfect by shifting until BOTH outside edges are perfectly against the fence and base, mark a pencil along the length of the base, now take a straight pc of wood and double stick it to that line so the edge acts as a stop, now all ya have to do is polp ur crown in, hold it against that stop and fence and cut away. Good Luck:yes::thumbup:

PS: if you still need help or just have questions you can PM me or email me

 

[ponch37300]

Thanks for all the help skymaster. I actually bought this http://www.amazon.com/Bench-Dog-10-...ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1244229601&sr=8-5

and think it will do exactly what your saying to do. Got it at lowes for 20 bucks and it has good reviews. Thanks again.

 

[skymaster]

Looks good, keep us posted. When you get ready to actually start cutting, PM me there are things to do that will make it easier but I dont want to tie this post up. Let me know