I am wondering if, when making a miter cut to expose the profile of a
baseboard, if 45 deg. is always the best angle, or should one adjust it a
few degrees either way?
I am putting in some oak baseboards, where I don't have the luxury of using
caulk and paint, and the curved tops of the baseboards don't always fit
exactly. I am wondering if adjusting the miter angle would help, of if
there is some other trick to making the profile match the baseboard better.
Buck Turgidson apparently said,on my timestamp of 3/08/2004 10:16 PM:
> I am wondering if, when making a miter cut to expose the profile of a
> baseboard, if 45 deg. is always the best angle, or should one adjust it a
> few degrees either way?
>
> I am putting in some oak baseboards, where I don't have the luxury of using
> caulk and paint, and the curved tops of the baseboards don't always fit
> exactly. I am wondering if adjusting the miter angle would help, of if
> there is some other trick to making the profile match the baseboard better.
>
>
You might need to cope rather than mitre.
See here for examples(watch for URL wrapping):
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/knowhow/handbook/article/0,16417,216118-5,00.html
If your stock is not perfectly dry or the weather is
changing wildly, you may find thinner portions of the
baseboard profile opening up a bit. This is normal
and can't be avoided. Unless you cope rather than
mitre. And that is a bit more work. Worth it, IMHO.
--
Cheers
Nuno Souto
[email protected]
"Buck Turgidson" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<c9WPc.7773$Jo1.3200@lakeread01>...
>
> Is this the same Nuno who hangs out in the Oracle group?
there ain't two of us anywhere else...
Cheers
Nuno Souto
[email protected]
"Buck Turgidson" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<qeWPc.7798$Jo1.4696@lakeread01>...
> "Vic Baron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > duh!. Y'see, the way that I make coping cuts it to cut the 45 degree miter
> > but slightly undercut the 90 degree coping cut. Allows for a tighter fit
> and
> > a *wee* bit of misalignment in the corner. this is also assuming we're
> > talking about a 90 degree bend here,
>
>
> I haven't been available to jump in and clarify, but, yes, I am just
> wondering if adjusting the 45 by a degree or two will sometimes make the
> coped profile fit a little better, since the curved top of the baseboard
> isn't always perfect. I cut at 45 and then flip the piece over and back-cut
> at 45 down to where the profile starts to curve. I am just wondering if 45
> is a hard rule.
>
> I guess I'll experiment with scrap and make a big pile of sawdust tonight.
Check out Vic's advice above. That's the way I cut them as well. The
undercutting seems to correct for slight mistakes or misalignments.
At least it works for me...
Sorry I misunderstood your first post.
Cheers
Nuno Souto
[email protected]
Hey Bridger -
I think Noons got it right - the subject line indicated the OP was talking
about a coping cut BUT the content indicates he was talking about a miter
cut. From the body it sounds like he doesn't understand what a coping cut
is.
Just MHO -
Vic
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 22:32:42 +1000, Noons
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Buck Turgidson apparently said,on my timestamp of 3/08/2004 10:16 PM:
> >
> >> I am wondering if, when making a miter cut to expose the profile of a
> >> baseboard, if 45 deg. is always the best angle, or should one adjust it
a
> >> few degrees either way?
> >>
> >> I am putting in some oak baseboards, where I don't have the luxury of
using
> >> caulk and paint, and the curved tops of the baseboards don't always fit
> >> exactly. I am wondering if adjusting the miter angle would help, of if
> >> there is some other trick to making the profile match the baseboard
better.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >You might need to cope rather than mitre.
> >See here for examples(watch for URL wrapping):
>
>http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/knowhow/handbook/article/0,16417,216118-5,0
0.html
> >
> >If your stock is not perfectly dry or the weather is
> >changing wildly, you may find thinner portions of the
> >baseboard profile opening up a bit. This is normal
> >and can't be avoided. Unless you cope rather than
> >mitre. And that is a bit more work. Worth it, IMHO.
>
>
>
> Noons...
>
> read the subject line....
I'm aware of how to make a coping cut, Bridger - I just don't think the OP
is. Since you make the miter cut to expose the profile and then use the
coping saw, it really doesn't matter. The angle at which you cut the profile
with the coping saw seems much more critical.
The OP indicates that the "curved portions" don't fit and would changing the
miter angle make a difference.
I still don't see that he understands a coping cut.
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 15:39:49 GMT, "Vic Baron" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >Hey Bridger -
> >
> >I think Noons got it right - the subject line indicated the OP was
talking
> >about a coping cut BUT the content indicates he was talking about a miter
> >cut. From the body it sounds like he doesn't understand what a coping cut
> >is.
> >
> >Just MHO -
> >
> >Vic
>
>
>
> Vic-
> the first cut you make for a cope joint is a miter to as the OP put
> it, expose the profile. then you follow the exposed profile with the
> coping saw.
>
> here's a page that shows it pretty well:
>
<http://www.creativehomeowner.com/index.php?pane=project&projectid=chwal105>
I understand geometric projection better than you might think - I just don't
know how to read <G>.
I re-read the OP and FINALLY saw that he was referring to the profile -
duh!. Y'see, the way that I make coping cuts it to cut the 45 degree miter
but slightly undercut the 90 degree coping cut. Allows for a tighter fit and
a *wee* bit of misalignment in the corner. this is also assuming we're
talking about a 90 degree bend here,
Apologies Bridger - you are correct - I've been sniffing too much Cocobolo
sawdust.
Vic
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Vic Baron wrote:
>
> > I'm aware of how to make a coping cut, Bridger - I just don't think the
OP
> > is. Since you make the miter cut to expose the profile and then use the
> > coping saw, it really doesn't matter. The angle at which you cut the
> > profile with the coping saw seems much more critical.
> >
> > The OP indicates that the "curved portions" don't fit and would changing
> > the miter angle make a difference.
> > I still don't see that he understands a coping cut.
>
> Or you don't understand geometric projection. Changing the angle changes
> the exposed profile. A couple of degrees either way shouldn't change it
> enough to notice, but should and does are not always the same.
>
> > <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >> On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 15:39:49 GMT, "Vic Baron" <[email protected]>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> >Hey Bridger -
> >> >
> >> >I think Noons got it right - the subject line indicated the OP was
> > talking
> >> >about a coping cut BUT the content indicates he was talking about a
> >> >miter cut. From the body it sounds like he doesn't understand what a
> >> >coping cut is.
> >> >
> >> >Just MHO -
> >> >
> >> >Vic
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Vic-
> >> the first cut you make for a cope joint is a miter to as the OP put
> >> it, expose the profile. then you follow the exposed profile with the
> >> coping saw.
> >>
> >> here's a page that shows it pretty well:
> >>
> >
>
<http://www.creativehomeowner.com/index.php?pane=project&projectid=chwal105>
>
> --
> --John
> Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
> (was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
Here's a drawing that shows Tom's description:
http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/pages/h00036.asp
(scroll about 70% down the page)
Tom Watson wrote:
> One thing that you might want to think about is the order in which you
> apply the pieces. Most rooms have a primary direction from which
> things are viewed.
>
> Let's say you have a room with a fireplace on one wall. In most cases
> the furniture will be oriented so that people can view the fireplace.
> In this case I would run the baseboard on the most viewed wall area
> first and butt the flat into that and cope the top profile on the
> piece that runs into that wall. If your copes are a little off they
> will not be as noticeable this way.
>
> If your stock is not perfectly dry or the weather is
> changing wildly, you may find thinner portions of the
> baseboard profile opening up a bit. This is normal
> and can't be avoided. Unless you cope rather than
> mitre. And that is a bit more work. Worth it, IMHO.
>
> --
> Cheers
> Nuno Souto
> [email protected]
Is this the same Nuno who hangs out in the Oracle group?
Vic Baron wrote:
> I'm aware of how to make a coping cut, Bridger - I just don't think the OP
> is. Since you make the miter cut to expose the profile and then use the
> coping saw, it really doesn't matter. The angle at which you cut the
> profile with the coping saw seems much more critical.
>
> The OP indicates that the "curved portions" don't fit and would changing
> the miter angle make a difference.
> I still don't see that he understands a coping cut.
Or you don't understand geometric projection. Changing the angle changes
the exposed profile. A couple of degrees either way shouldn't change it
enough to notice, but should and does are not always the same.
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 15:39:49 GMT, "Vic Baron" <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Hey Bridger -
>> >
>> >I think Noons got it right - the subject line indicated the OP was
> talking
>> >about a coping cut BUT the content indicates he was talking about a
>> >miter cut. From the body it sounds like he doesn't understand what a
>> >coping cut is.
>> >
>> >Just MHO -
>> >
>> >Vic
>>
>>
>>
>> Vic-
>> the first cut you make for a cope joint is a miter to as the OP put
>> it, expose the profile. then you follow the exposed profile with the
>> coping saw.
>>
>> here's a page that shows it pretty well:
>>
>
<http://www.creativehomeowner.com/index.php?pane=project&projectid=chwal105>
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
On Tue, 3 Aug 2004 08:16:29 -0400, "Buck Turgidson"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I am wondering if, when making a miter cut to expose the profile of a
>baseboard, if 45 deg. is always the best angle, or should one adjust it a
>few degrees either way?
>
>I am putting in some oak baseboards, where I don't have the luxury of using
>caulk and paint, and the curved tops of the baseboards don't always fit
>exactly. I am wondering if adjusting the miter angle would help, of if
>there is some other trick to making the profile match the baseboard better.
>
45 degrees is correct if the corner it is fitting into is 90 degrees.
the corners of rooms often aren't right at 90. a degree or two won't
make a visible difference on a cope joint with most profiles, but keep
it in mind.
more important to getting a tight fit is to back cut the cope. that
is, when following the profile with the coping saw, cut a few degrees
beyond square to the wall, so that inside the joint, against the wall
there is a little gap but at the face the joint snugs up tight.
On Tue, 3 Aug 2004 08:16:29 -0400, "Buck Turgidson"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I am wondering if, when making a miter cut to expose the profile of a
>baseboard, if 45 deg. is always the best angle, or should one adjust it a
>few degrees either way?
>
>I am putting in some oak baseboards, where I don't have the luxury of using
>caulk and paint, and the curved tops of the baseboards don't always fit
>exactly. I am wondering if adjusting the miter angle would help, of if
>there is some other trick to making the profile match the baseboard better.
>
Something that I often do in this situation is to rip the profiled top
part of the baseboard off on the tablesaw.
This allows me to run the flat part of the base around the room very
quickly, using butt joints on the inside corners.
The profiled part is much easier to cope when detached from the flat.
One thing that you might want to think about is the order in which you
apply the pieces. Most rooms have a primary direction from which
things are viewed.
Let's say you have a room with a fireplace on one wall. In most cases
the furniture will be oriented so that people can view the fireplace.
In this case I would run the baseboard on the most viewed wall area
first and butt the flat into that and cope the top profile on the
piece that runs into that wall. If your copes are a little off they
will not be as noticeable this way.
Also, take some time to check the inside and outside corners with a
framing square. Many drywall tapers leave the mud fat on the inside
corners, particularly so at the area near the floor. You can save
yourself some trouble by sanding out the mud in the corners with some
eighty grit paper before putting on the base.
On the outside corners the mud is often concave from the high point
established by the metal corner bead to the flat of the wall. It is
often worthwhile to run some more mud in this hollow to get things
flat.
Remember to hold your base up so that the bottom is a little bit above
the finished floor line, if you will be using a quarter round, or just
slightly below, if not - this will avoid burying the nice trim that
you bought in an area that can't be viewed. If you are applying the
base to an existing hardwood floor, I'd rip a back bevel on the bottom
on the tablesaw, so that the point can provide a crushed fit to the
flooring - most floors are a little wavy.
You are right on in thinking that a back cut forty five is what to use
as a coping guide on an included ninety degree angle. I undercut the
cope piece a good deal and leave the other end square, so that I can
tap the joint home with a mallet - biting the sharp edge of the cope
into the other mating profile. Then I cut the square end to a miter
before nailing things home.
The outside corners are more fussy because the corner bead is always
out of plane with the wall. Running some mud into the hollow will
help but won't eliminate the problem.
I usually cut test pieces at forty five and a bit off of this and then
see which pair works best on the particular corner. If I only have to
walk to the SCMS three times to get the right fit - I consider that
about average.
Good Luck.
Regards,
Tom.
Thomas J.Watson - Cabinetmaker (ret.)
tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (real email)
http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1
On Tue, 3 Aug 2004 20:38:41 -0400, "Buck Turgidson"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"Vic Baron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> I understand geometric projection better than you might think - I just
>don't
>> know how to read <G>.
>>
>> I re-read the OP and FINALLY saw that he was referring to the profile -
>> duh!. Y'see, the way that I make coping cuts it to cut the 45 degree miter
>> but slightly undercut the 90 degree coping cut. Allows for a tighter fit
>and
>> a *wee* bit of misalignment in the corner. this is also assuming we're
>> talking about a 90 degree bend here,
>>
>> Apologies Bridger - you are correct - I've been sniffing too much Cocobolo
>> sawdust.
>
>
>I haven't been available to jump in and clarify, but, yes, I am just
>wondering if adjusting the 45 by a degree or two will sometimes make the
>coped profile fit a little better, since the curved top of the baseboard
>isn't always perfect. I cut at 45 and then flip the piece over and back-cut
>at 45 down to where the profile starts to curve. I am just wondering if 45
>is a hard rule.
>
>I guess I'll experiment with scrap and make a big pile of sawdust tonight.
>
increasing the angle beyond 45 will exaggerate the profile, decreasing
it will flatten it out. if you're measuring from the corner and using
that number for the final length note that changing the angle will
change the length.
On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 15:39:49 GMT, "Vic Baron" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Hey Bridger -
>
>I think Noons got it right - the subject line indicated the OP was talking
>about a coping cut BUT the content indicates he was talking about a miter
>cut. From the body it sounds like he doesn't understand what a coping cut
>is.
>
>Just MHO -
>
>Vic
Vic-
the first cut you make for a cope joint is a miter to as the OP put
it, expose the profile. then you follow the exposed profile with the
coping saw.
here's a page that shows it pretty well:
<http://www.creativehomeowner.com/index.php?pane=project&projectid=chwal105>
On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 22:32:42 +1000, Noons
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Buck Turgidson apparently said,on my timestamp of 3/08/2004 10:16 PM:
>
>> I am wondering if, when making a miter cut to expose the profile of a
>> baseboard, if 45 deg. is always the best angle, or should one adjust it a
>> few degrees either way?
>>
>> I am putting in some oak baseboards, where I don't have the luxury of using
>> caulk and paint, and the curved tops of the baseboards don't always fit
>> exactly. I am wondering if adjusting the miter angle would help, of if
>> there is some other trick to making the profile match the baseboard better.
>>
>>
>
>
>You might need to cope rather than mitre.
>See here for examples(watch for URL wrapping):
>http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/knowhow/handbook/article/0,16417,216118-5,00.html
>
>If your stock is not perfectly dry or the weather is
>changing wildly, you may find thinner portions of the
>baseboard profile opening up a bit. This is normal
>and can't be avoided. Unless you cope rather than
>mitre. And that is a bit more work. Worth it, IMHO.
Noons...
read the subject line....
On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 08:11:41 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>On Tue, 3 Aug 2004 08:16:29 -0400, "Buck Turgidson"
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I am wondering if, when making a miter cut to expose the profile of a
>>baseboard, if 45 deg. is always the best angle, or should one adjust it a
>>few degrees either way?
>>
>>I am putting in some oak baseboards, where I don't have the luxury of using
>>caulk and paint, and the curved tops of the baseboards don't always fit
>>exactly. I am wondering if adjusting the miter angle would help, of if
>>there is some other trick to making the profile match the baseboard better.
>>
>
>
>45 degrees is correct if the corner it is fitting into is 90 degrees.
>the corners of rooms often aren't right at 90. a degree or two won't
>make a visible difference on a cope joint with most profiles, but keep
>it in mind.
>
You are correct, but it can make a difference with wider molding with
a deeper profile. Especially on an old house, where nothing is 90
degrees. Cutting the original miter a few degrees more or less than 45
can make the cope easier, and require less fine tuning with files or
rasps.
>more important to getting a tight fit is to back cut the cope. that
>is, when following the profile with the coping saw, cut a few degrees
>beyond square to the wall, so that inside the joint, against the wall
>there is a little gap but at the face the joint snugs up tight.
tt
"Vic Baron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I understand geometric projection better than you might think - I just
don't
> know how to read <G>.
>
> I re-read the OP and FINALLY saw that he was referring to the profile -
> duh!. Y'see, the way that I make coping cuts it to cut the 45 degree miter
> but slightly undercut the 90 degree coping cut. Allows for a tighter fit
and
> a *wee* bit of misalignment in the corner. this is also assuming we're
> talking about a 90 degree bend here,
>
> Apologies Bridger - you are correct - I've been sniffing too much Cocobolo
> sawdust.
I haven't been available to jump in and clarify, but, yes, I am just
wondering if adjusting the 45 by a degree or two will sometimes make the
coped profile fit a little better, since the curved top of the baseboard
isn't always perfect. I cut at 45 and then flip the piece over and back-cut
at 45 down to where the profile starts to curve. I am just wondering if 45
is a hard rule.
I guess I'll experiment with scrap and make a big pile of sawdust tonight.
On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 17:11:11 GMT, "Vic Baron" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>I'm aware of how to make a coping cut, Bridger - I just don't think the OP
>is. Since you make the miter cut to expose the profile and then use the
>coping saw, it really doesn't matter. The angle at which you cut the profile
>with the coping saw seems much more critical.
>
>The OP indicates that the "curved portions" don't fit and would changing the
>miter angle make a difference.
>I still don't see that he understands a coping cut.
I think he has a basic understanding of it but is having some trouble
making it work. the question of whether the angle of the first cut
matters is a valid one, and the answer is not too much. it *does*
matter somewhat, though, 'specially when a corner is way out of square
and/or when the molding has a deep profile.