Cutting a Cope Joint on Crown Moulding

Lay out and miter the cope.

Nail the first piece of moulding in place. Hold the second piece temporarily in place, and lay out the direction of the miter by drawing a line that starts at the bottom of the moulding and angles up and away from the corner. The line is only a guide and doesn't need to be drawn at any particular angle. Put the moulding on the miter saw, and set the saw to cut a 45-degree miter that angles in the general direction of the line you drew, and cut a miter.

Begin at the flat along the bottom edge of the moulding.

Put the saw blade on the end grain just below the surface of the moulding, as shown. (If the moulding is primed, you'll lay the saw just a hair below the lower suface of the paint.) Make a few passes with the saw, making a shallow groove along the entire length of the flat.

Change the angle of the saw.

Once you've made a shallow cut into the flat, lift the saw handle and begin cutting along the bottom corner of the moulding. Cut from the corner to the point where the cove begins, following the groove you cut in step two.

Cut in from the back.

Back the saw out of the cut you've made. Start a new cut from the back of the moulding. Cut up towards the middle of the cove, and then follow the shape of the cove until you reach the cut you finished in step three. Remove the waste.

Cut out the upper section of the cove.

Turn the saw around, and cut along the profile of the upper section of the cove. Stop cutting when you reach the fillet.

Cut out the fillet.

Come in from the back of the moulding, and cut along the fillet until you reach the cut you made at the top of the cove.

Cut along the S-curve.

Start at the fillet and cut along the S-curve until you reach the flat at the top of the moulding.