Carpentry and Woodworking - Crown Molding Newbie

Hello all - I am thinking about installing some crown molding in the recessed squares that i have in my ceilings. I dont have a mitre saw or any professional tools like that but just the standard things. I was wondering if i could do that without it. Those recessed squares in the ceiling are 10 feet by 15 feet and i heard that crown molding installation is not as hard as was said. I have looked around the internet and they also sell these foam crown molding things - is that an option or does it look too cheap. Anyways, Any advice on what i should do or how i should go about this?

If you're familar with using power tools and know how to use a power miter saw, it would be advisble to use one. If not, then you can certainally do it by hand, but keep in mind, it will not only take you a lot longer, but your joints will not be nearly as nice.

Crown molding isn't hard when you have exactly 90 degree corners, which we know that isn't going to happen. It does take some skill, patience and time to learn how to do it. No, you can't cut it like normal moldings either.

The foam mouldings are only for painting and not staining, so if that's your intention, I would certainly look into it. You can also get them with accessories, like inside and outside corners premade, so you can just cut the other pieces at 90 and butt them up against the premade corner pieces. They can be just glued too, with no nails.

Without tools, it is fairly hard to get crown moulding to look good. The corners can be very difficult to cut at the right angle, with no gaps.

If your staining, and using real wood, I would look into purchasing a compound miter saw before I started.

thanks for the replys - I am just looking to paint them and not stain them so i might do the foam ones!

Does anyone know of a reputable place that sells this stuff?

I think the MDF based pre-primed crown at home depot is about or less than a dollar a foot. I would re-prime it and then paint it.

You might want to try Outwater Plastics & Architerchural Products.


www.outwater.com

They may be able to hook you up.

Or you can do an internet search for other suppliers.

Maybe a local lumber yard that stocks mouldings will have it in stock, or can special order it.



Let us know what you do.

The least you could do is go buy one of those miter boxes for a hand saw, so that you could at least cut decent 45's and 90's. And you will need a coping saw, and maybe one of those do-it-yourself books to show you how to cope a corner.

If you use the foam crown, it's easy to cut. But you have to be really careful when you nail in your panel nails. One miss with the hammer and whammo! Foam crown doesn't hide hammer tracks too well.

Good luck, you'll need it.

This is a great tool and it takes into consideration out of square walls. A little more expensive but instant gratification.You take out part of the mitre saw and set the angle with it then put it back in the saw and cut a perfect angle

http://www.qvc.com/asp/frameset.asp?nest=%2Fasp%2FisItemNumberRedirect.asp&search=SQ&frames=y&referrer=QVC&txtDesc=magic+mitre&SearchClass=&Submit4=Go

Try that one.