Handyman Tips From ezcrown.com

14 Expert Tips for Tight Miters

drkometas@gmail.com (Athas Kometas) — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 18:20:00 EST

Pro tricks for air-tight joints.

Must Know Shortcuts for Trim Carpenters

jeff@jeffreyptaylor.com (Jeff Taylor) — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 11:36:18 EST

Learn better ways to cut and install casing, baseboard and crown molding, tricks for hanging doors and avoiding bad transitions, and other secrets of the trim carpentry profession.

Easier Crown Molding Installation

Steve Maxwell — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 06:50:00 EST

Easier Crown Molding Installation Put these five into practice and enjoy better, faster results If you’d like to install crown molding at your place, this article can help you do it better. You’ll learn tips that I’ve found helpful over four decades of working with wood, including a recent innovation that solves one of the main challenges of installing crown molding well. Installation tricks coming up immediately, but check out the Q&As later in the article. Crown installation tip#1: Decide on crown molding width This might seem obvious, but no one can accurately decide on the ideal width of crown for a given room without trying samples in place. As you’re shopping for crown, buy one length of several widths and styles, then have someone hold them up at the ceiling while you see what it looks like. Besides varying widths, the different profiles of crown can have a big effect on the look of your room. Don’t cut these test pieces and you’ll be able to return them to the store later, when you pick up all the crown you’ll need for the entire job. Crown installation tip#2: Decide on painted or stained crown molding Choosing a finishing approach might seem like a strange thing to think about early on like this, but it’s essential. That’s because it’s much more challenging to install stained crown rather than painted crown. Filler is one reason. Paint-grade crown allows the use of latex caulking to fill gaps invisibly before painting, so a tight fit on joints is much less critical than with stained trim. No filling is possible with stained trim of any kind, so you’ve got to be spot-on with all joints. Cost of materials is another issue. Crown molding destined to be stained needs to be milled from high-quality solid wood, which is much more expensive than the MDF or lower-grade woods that paint-grade crown is made from. Crown installation tip#3: Obtain two essential tools A miter saw (also called a chopsaw) offers the single biggest advantage you can give yourself when tooling up for crown installation. The ability to accurately cut trim at precise angles is key. Unless you like frustration, don’t even attempt to install crown without a big miter saw at your disposal. Some kind of cordless nailer is a huge advantage when installing crown, too. Sure, you could secure crown with hammer driven nails, but that’s a lot harder than it looks. Why? The simple reason is that it takes two hands to drive a nail, leaving no hands to hold up the crown. Air nailers of the sort you’d use for crown installation are not made because it’s physically tiring to drive such small nails, but rather that an air nailer needs only one hand to operate. In addition, air-driven nails don’t knock the crown around like hammer blows do, so accurate joint alignment is much easier. Crown installation tip#4: Mark your walls for nail location ahead of time This sounds simple enough, but it rarely is simple without help. That’s because underlying residential wall frames rarely offer all the wood you need for securing crown with nails. Sure, there will probably be some hidden framing wood available for nailing into, and this should be marked and made use of whenever possible. But since all crown is held in place with finishing nails or brads driven into the underlying wood frame below the drywall, drywall alone can’t help. That’s where an invention by a Florida dentist helps a lot. Athas Kometas didn’t like the way crown molding installations were often a hit-and-miss affair, all for lack of underlying nailing surfaces. That’s why he invented something called EZCrown. It’s a combination sheet metal backing that holds angled wooden nailing blocks. The sheet metal is easy to anchor to the wall, in turn making it easy to nail the crown molding to the angled blocks. Click below to meet Athas by video (he’s an interesting guy), and to see EZCrown in action. Athas’s favorite method of marking stud locations are those narrow sticky notes made to mark specific spots in books. These stickies cling well to the wall, but peel off easily without leaving marks behind. You should try them. Crown installation tip#5: Consider corner blocks The trickiest part of crown molding installation is getting the joints tight, and this is why corner blocks were invented. They sit in the corners, eliminating the need to make angled cuts on trim. Simple square cuts are all that’s required. Sure, you still need to get the length of a given piece of crown correct, but this is a lot easier than getting a complicated compound angle correct as well as overall length. Crown Molding Q&A If you’re new to crown molding, learn some useful basics with the most common crown molding questions people ask. What is the purpose of crown molding? Crown molding (also spelled “moulding”) is a specific type of interior trim that’s typically found where ceilings meet walls or on the top end of cabinets. Crown molding adds a lot of elegance and refinement to any room. It gets its name from the fact that it’s always installed up high in a room or on top of elegant furniture. Crown molding is always angled, too. This makes the profile details easier to see and appreciate while standing on the floor. Is crown molding outdated? No, far from it. Crown molding is a classic trim detail that’s been used for centuries in many parts of the world. And though crown fell out of favor in most places during the 1960s and 70s, it began to come back in the 80s. Crown molding may be more commonly used today than at any other time in history. It’s easier and cheaper to install and looks fabulous. What is the average cost of crown molding? This varies a lot depending on the width and shape of the crown chosen, and whether or not the installation is made to be painted or stained. You can expect to pay $5 to $25 per running foot of crown molding installed. What is the difference between molding and crown molding? Crown molding is just one specific type of molding used inside homes and buildings to make the space look better. There are hundreds of different kinds of moldings in the world. Crown is just one. Molding like this is also sometimes called “trim”.

Tips and Techniques for Finishing Trim

drkometas@gmail.com (Athas Kometas) — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 10:40:00 EST

This article has some great DIY tips & tricks on how to repair and finish trim around your house (whether it’s baseboards, window trim or crown molding). If you are going to spend the time and money - even using EZCrown - it is critical that your crown molding is finished properly andinstall it securely.

Mill Your Own Wide Crown Moulding Free Plans Download

drkometas@gmail.com (Athas Kometas) — Sat, 02 Oct 2021 08:30:00 EST

The process Steve Maxwell explains is fast and the profiles you get are crisper and more intricate than what comes off a lumber rack. You can also make use of wood species beyond all that ordinary pine and oak stuff. And if you ever choose to sell your house, explain to prospective buyers the benefits of your particular shop-milled crown molding, and the mystique may even let you talk up the price a bit, too.

14 Expert Tips for Tight Miters

drkometas@gmail.com (Athas Kometas) — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 07:09:06 EST

Pro tricks for air-tight joints.

The Simplest Method Youll Ever See for Marking and Cutting Radius Trim

jeff@jeffreyptaylor.com (Jeff Taylor) — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 09:48:30 EST

Marking and cutting radius trim can be tricky, and mistakes can be costly. This expert has a super simple method.

Tips and Techniques for Finishing Trim

jeff@jeffreyptaylor.com (Jeff Taylor) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 09:31:29 EST

Finishing Trim...Achieving a flawless finish is all about proper prep, taking the correct steps, and applying the right product with quality tools.

Mitered Joints Make a Tiled Shower Niche Shine

jeff@jeffreyptaylor.com (Jeff Taylor) — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 12:43:53 EST

All you need for tight-fitting miters in tile is an angle grinder and a steady hand.

14 Pro-Approved Tips for Achieving Tight Miters Every Time

jeff@jeffreyptaylor.com (Jeff Taylor) — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 16:10:00 EST

This article contains some useful tips on mitering corners.

How to Cope Baseboard Trim with a Miter Saw

jeff@jeffreyptaylor.com (Jeff Taylor) — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 16:05:00 EST

This article teaches you how to cope baseboard corners fast. It will walk you through, step-by-step, coping baseboard with your miter saw.

Expert Guide for Choosing the Right Caulk for Any Job

jeff@jeffreyptaylor.com (Jeff Taylor) — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 12:35:00 EST

Even with the EZCrown system, you may have some minor caulking needs. Especially with very old homes. This article contains great information on what you should look for.

Drywall Anchors Do They Work

jeff@jeffreyptaylor.com (Jeff Taylor) — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 19:00:00 EST

When you need to hang something in a spot without a stud, drywall anchors are the way to go. But can they be trusted to bear the rated weight? This article from Family Handyman says 'YES'! EZCrown frames have pre-drilled holes created exclusively for drywall anchors and there are options with anchors where they are included in the purchase.

Dialing in Accurate Miter-Saw Cuts

drkometas@gmail.com (Athas Kometas) — Sun, 24 May 2020 16:05:00 EST

We came across this tip by T.D. Culver, Cleveland Heights, OH in Fine Homebuilding Lining up the blade of a miter saw with the cut mark on a piece of molding can be difficult to do perfectly. Rather than sneaking up on the mark, try this trick. Put a piece of masking tape on the saw’s table right over the slot where the blade extends below the table. Blue tape works well here. Now slowly lower the spinning blade through the tape. The resulting blade-wide slit in the tape shows the exact placement of the blade at whatever angle you set the saw. When the tape gets ragged, apply a new piece.

How to Build a Portable Miter Saw Stand

jeff@jeffreyptaylor.com (Jeff Taylor) — Sun, 17 May 2020 12:40:00 EST

Bernard Williams , Cranberry, PA came up with an idea that allowed him to recycle something old to solve a problem that he had with something new. As shown in the drawing, he modified an old folding ironing board into a portable stand for my miter saw and affixed a 3/4-in. plywood top to the stand, bolted the saw to it, and added a couple of 2x blocks on each side to act as outfeed supports. A plywood panel screwed to the legs works to steady the stand. When he doesn't need the saw, the rig folds up, and I can lean it against the shop wall.

Savvy Sawhorse Table Tips

jeff@jeffreyptaylor.com (Jeff Taylor) — Sun, 10 May 2020 07:05:00 EST

Learn how to make sawhorses the most useful tools in your arsenal here...

36 Miter Saw Tips and Tool Reviews

drkometas@gmail.com (Athas Kometas) — Sun, 03 May 2020 06:55:00 EST

We haven't used all of the tool brands mentioned, but there is some good information contained in this article.

Pro Tip Hold Shoe Against Shoe While Coping

jeff@jeffreyptaylor.com (Jeff Taylor) — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 10:35:00 EST

Coping shoe can be tricky. Learn a tip to make it a little easier here.

Slotting Baseboards

drkometas@gmail.com (Athas Kometas) — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 16:20:00 EST

A great tip about Slotting Baseboards from Fine Home Building...

Tips for Ripping Wood

jeff@jeffreyptaylor.com (Jeff Taylor) — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 06:30:00 EST

Expert tips for straighter, faster and safer rip cuts.

Drywall Anchors

jeff@jeffreyptaylor.com (Jeff Taylor) — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 06:55:00 EST

Choose drywall screws rather than nails—nails are far more likely to work loose and cause ugly craters or “pops.” The screw length depends on the drywall thickness: 1-5/8-in. screws are for 5/8-in. drywall; 1-1/4-in. screws are for anything thinner. Coarse threads are for wood studs; fine threads for steel studs. You’ll find drywall screws with thin (No. 6) and thick (No. 8) shanks. Choose thin ones. Thick-shank screws are harder to drive, break out drywall near edges and leave shredded paper around the screw head.

Duct Tape Keeps Miters Together

drkometas@gmail.com (Athas Kometas) — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 13:35:00 EST

Here is a tip we came across from Fine Homebuilding. It is a great and easy way to keep miters together if your corners don't align.

How to Use a Miter Saw

drkometas@gmail.com (Athas Kometas) — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 11:20:00 EST

Miter saws are designed to make angled cuts for molding, trim work, rafters, and other general carpentry applications. The saws also make straight crosscuts and, when equipped with the right blade, the versatility of a miter saw is an important part of a tool arsenal for professional carpenters as well as DIYers.

How to Cut Extreme Angles on Your Miter Saw

drkometas@gmail.com (Athas Kometas) — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 12:45:00 EST

The process becomes fairly simple if you make a simple jig from scrap wood to make safe easy cuts at angles greater than 45 degrees with your compound miter saw or chop saw. In fact, that is part of the manufacturing process for the construction of an EZCrown metal frame.

Creating perfect miters is hard but this tip makes it really easy to fix them.

drkometas@gmail.com (Athas Kometas) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 07:05:00 EST

Miters Are Hard. Here’s An Easy Fix from Harrison Kral and Construction Pro Tips Cutting a miter joint that closes up perfectly and maintains a 90-degree angle is really satisfying. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always happen. Here’s a quick fix for a slightly open miter joint; rub the shank of a screwdriver along the miter at a steep angle, from both sides of the joint. Chances are, you’ll be the only one that knows it wasn’t perfect to begin with!