Found a simple trick for cutting crown molding flat on a miter saw

I was over at a historic house restoration site in Richmond last weekend helping a friend. The trim carpenter there showed me something real basic but I'd never thought of it. He flips the crown molding upside down and rests it against the fence at the same angle it sits on the wall. He cut a scrap block at 45 degrees and clamped it to the saw bed as a stop. Saved me from having to buy a fancy crown molding jig or cut compound angles. Has anyone else tried just using a simple wood block like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

mason_barnes19d ago

Flip that molding upside down and lean it back at the same angle it sits on the wall. It is the easiest way to get clean cuts without messing with compound angles. I have done it for years with just a cheap protractor to set the saw bed and fence. The scrap block trick you mentioned works perfect as a stop too. Just make sure your saw blade is sharp and you hold the piece tight against the fence. The whole setup takes five minutes and beats buying a specialized jig any day.

caseyclark19d ago

Wait, you seriously do all that with just a cheap protractor?