Any tips on cutting trim, esp. mitered cuts?

[MikeT]

No matter how often I start a job cutting quarter round, base shoe, or whatever, I end up taking way too much time and making way too many mistakes.  The most frustrating part seems to be my constant inability to measure and cut corners correctly.  Every time, either the corner is too long (or worse) too short.  Same thing for mitered cuts when I am trying to join two sticks together.  This last time, I ended up just intentionally cutting a piece long and then gradually cut off a piece until it fits. 

Any time tested tricks?  I know with more practice I will get better, but the mistakes are getting expensive....

Thanks,
Mike

[Redoverfarm]

Mike unless you do this kind of stuff all the time you are not alone.  I find it easier to develope a consistant way to measure.  Marking the spot where the saw will cut to the desired spot .  I usually purposely cut a smidge long and sort of bow it into place.  On miter cuts I measure to the short point ( because it is closest to see where the blade lines up) from the opposite end then place the mark on what I want to cut to the short end and the miter will make itself.  Of course you should be using a electric miter saw.  It is very hard to get good corners using a hand miter saw unless the set up is a good one.   Maybe Peg will stop in and tell the correct way.

[PEG688]

Check out the interior trim tips thread , it may help you out. If not select a photo or post that closest to what your doing and ask a question using that for a reference.

We'll see what we can do from there.

  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=1243.0

Around post #9 theres some base board info.

 

[JRR]

Talk about good timing!  I was just reading thru the Sept issue (#205) of Fine Homebuilding, I think a tip sent in by a reader fills the bill.  Page 22, titled "Fitting cope crown molding".  It's also one of the "on-line videos" ... whatever that means?
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Well, duh .... all I had to do was look:
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http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/8561/fitting-coped-crown-molding

[MikeT]

Thanks, folks.  Seeing the pics from PEG's 2006 post was really helpful.  I remember seeing that way back then.

mt