Crown molding installed 601-750-2274 outside corners

Determine angle of outside corner

An outside corner can be formed by cutting two pieces of crown with opposite miters of 45 degrees each, making sure both miters are longer on the top of the crown (the part that rests on the saw table when you cut). But sometimes a wall corner isn't exactly square, so you must first measure the angle formed by the two walls and and then bisect it.

To do this, take two pieces of wood of exactly the same width and hold one against each wall, making sure their ends overlap by an inch or so.

Next, draw pencil lines on the face of the upper piece (the one held flat to the ceiling) alongside each edge of the overlapping piece.

Draw a diagonal line to connect two opposite corners of the marks.

Test the angle cuts

Turn the pieces so they are stacked precisely one on top of the other (make sure to put the piece with the pencil lines on top). Then take this stack to the miter saw, put one set of the boards' edges against the saw fence, and adjust the blade angle to match the diagonal line.

Saw through both pieces at the same time along the diagonal line. This cut bisects the angle of the outside corner.

Hold the cut pieces against the ceiling as shown and check for a tight fit. If necessary, mark in which direction the angle is off, adjust the saw to match this corrected angle, reassemble the two boards as before, and cut them. Then test again to be sure.

Cut the outside miter

Mount a piece of crown in the saw (upside down as before), leaving the blade set to the angle used to cut the test scrap. This is the angle you'll use to cut the outside corner.

Because the molding is upside down, if the saw blade is swung to the right, you will be cutting the right-half piece of the joint and you'll need to cut off the right end of the workpiece. If the blade is swung to the left, cut off the left end of the workpiece to complete the left half of the joint.

Once you've cut the first piece, use the test scrap to adjust the blade in the opposite direction and cut the other half of the joint.

Install the molding on the corner

Hold the molding pieces in position at the outside corner and check for a tight fit (left).

Before nailing the molding to the wall, bore two pilot holes through the point of the miter joint. A 4d finish nail chucked into your drill works well here.

Then apply glue to the miter joint and fasten each piece of crown with 6d or 8d finish nails top and bottom.

At the corner joint, tap 4d finish nails through the pilot holes.

Set all the nails.