Four tips for cutting mitre joints like a pro
rooms aren’t always square, so it’s sometimes necessary to fudge the exact angle of trim that’s supposed to have two 45-degree angles meeting. Your trim needs something different than 45 degrees if there’s a gap in the mitre joint when pieces come together, but how much di erent? In cases like these you could tweak the setting of the saw one way or the other, but sometimes it’s easier to simply shim one end of the trim by eye and leave the saw set for 45 degrees. Cardboard or small wooden wedges placed against the mitre saw fence work great as shims.
Tip 3: Adjust joints with a block plane on the back
No matter how skilled you are with a mitre saw, sometimes a piece of trim is just a little too long. at’s better than too short, because a few strokes with a block plane can make everything perfect. One of the best ways to slightly shorten the e ective length of an almost-right mitre joint is by planing the back surface of trim, not the angled end. If you need to remove more than just a paper-thickness of wood, plane the joint face itself, but only with the trim fully supported on a solid surface. You want all movement to be from the plane only, with the trim steady as a rock. Tip 4: Secure trim with pins
In many cases, the best way to secure trim and moulding isn’t with nails but with something called a 23-gauge pin nailer. e metal fasteners these air tools shoot are roughly the same diameter as a standard sewing needle, so they leave behind marks that virtually disappear after sanding and nishing. e best 23-gauge pinners for trim installation re two-inch-long pins that can secure door and window trim as well as full-size crown moulding. For strongest results, apply a little glue on hidden back surfaces of trim before installation.
Installing trim is one of the most e ective ways to make your house elegant and unique, while saving good money. Doing the work yourself also lets you connect with your home in a way that only hands-on investment can deliver.
Visit Baileylineroad.com/29147 for a 15-minute video tutorial on cutting mitre joints well.