Practice molding techique by trimming doorways.
Molding technique revolves around the miter joint. Once the proper skill has developed for mitering molding, you can install it just about anywhere. Typically, most molding application is done around doors, and floorboards in the home. The technique involved is based in the 45 degree miter joint, which is used almost exclusively. To learn proper technique start by getting clean miter cuts with accurate miter degrees. Its easy with a power miter saw.
Instructions
Doorways
1. Swing the miter saw blade all the way to the right side and lock it into the 45-degree preset. Lay a piece of standard colonial style molding on the saw table with the end of it extending just past the saw blade. Turn on the saw and miter the end of the molding off.
2. Swing the saw blade all the way to the left, lock it down and place another piece of molding on the other side of the blade. Turn on the saw and trim off the end. You should now have a right and left-hand miter.
3. Measure from the floor with a tape measure, to the top of the doorway and add 2 1/2 inches. This will be the highest point, the long point, of the molding when it is installed beside the door. Set the saw blade at 90 degrees and cut the bottoms off both pieces of molding at this measurement.
4. Measure across the width of the doorway and add 2 1/2 inches. This will be the long points of the horizontal piece of molding that runs across the top of the door.
5. Swing the saw to the right side 45-degree preset and miter the end off the molding.
Using the measurement, measure from the long point of the miter down the molding and make a mark. Swing the saw blade to the left hand 45-degree preset and cut the molding at this measurement, long point to long point. You know have a set of molding for the doorway.
6. Stand up one side of the molding on the side of the doorway. Hold it back from the edge 1/4 inch and nail it to the door frame. Do the other side the same. Place the top piece on, mating the miters together. Pull down to get the miters tight, and then nail on the top piece.
Tags: long point, 45-degree preset, blade left, blade Turn, doorway inches