Just realized something about crown molding coping that keeps tripping people up

I keep seeing guys on job sites in Nashville trying to cope crown molding with the saw still set at a 45 degree angle. They end up with gaps you could fit a nickel through. If you don't swing the saw back to zero before you start coping, you're cutting a bevel into the material instead of following the profile. I learned that the hard way after redoing three corners on a $2,400 trim job last month. It takes an extra 10 seconds to check your saw settings before you start. Anybody else notice this mistake popping up more with new guys?

2 comments

2 Comments

xena_brown5018d agoMost Upvoted

yeah but i gotta push back on this a little. i've been trimming houses for about 12 years now and i honestly leave the saw at 45 for coping most of the time. if you're just doing inside corners and you know how to use a coping saw right the bevel actually helps you get a cleaner underside cut. the problem isn't the saw angle it's that guys don't account for the spring angle or they rush through the back cut with a file. a 45 degree bevel gives you more meat to work with so you don't blow out the face of the crown. sure if you're cutting super cheap mdf it might chip but on real wood or good poly that extra angle saves you from having to touch up with caulk. i'd rather take my time and get a tight fit than reset the saw every time and end up with a sloppy back cut that needs filler.

the_margaret18d ago

Respectfully, @xena_brown50, I gotta disagree on leaving the saw at 45 for coping. I've been doing trim work for over 15 years and I found that a 45 bevel actually makes it harder to get a clean back cut because you're fighting more blade exposure. The extra meat you're talking about just gives me more material to screw up if my coping saw wanders even a little. For me, keeping the saw at 90 and focusing on the spring angle gives a more predictable cut every time. Cheap MDF definitely chips at any angle, but on real wood I've had better luck with a straight setup and a sharp file. I just think it's simpler and less room for error, especially when you're working fast on a big job.