Have baseboards to cut but don’t have a miter saw? Scared of ruining the baseboard because of the lack of information?
Are miter saws the only tools to cut a baseboard? Do I really need to buy a miter saw in order to cut a baseboard at home?
Questions like these and many more come to people’s mind when they think of going handy with the tools.
If you have a project to work on, be it work or at home. Now if you are new to the field, let me tell you about some basic stuff before we get to the main course.
What Is A Baseboard?
A baseboard is a length of wood or plastic that covers the region between the base of the wall and the floor.
It is intended to conceal the cracked joints however; it likewise shields dividers from damage and protects them to the fullest.
Elements Of Baseboard Corner’s
The following are the elements of a baseboard corner:
- Hardwood
- Composites
- Vinyl
-
Hardwood
It is regularly somewhere in the range of 2 and 3 creeps in width and is generally created in 96-inch lengths.
Majority of business baseboards are profiled castings produced using any sort of hardwood, including oak, mahogany or maple.
The primary bit of casting is introduced and afterward another piece is set on its edge, over the principal piece, to make shadow lines.
For extra effects, profiled embellishment can likewise be stacked for a progressively intricate appearance.
Some creation shaping is pine or fir. It is processed in huge amounts and passes by the names of “farm,” “pioneer,” “commemoration” or “ogee,” amongst other names.
-
Composites
They have a slender vinyl covering, with a thick particle board center. Composite moldings are somewhat like vinyl, yet don’t twist effortlessly.
They twist more than ordinary wood, however not as much as vinyl. Complex moldings can’t be retooled; however, and are left normally white or colored.
Composites are the most reasonable of all the baseboard types. They are more considerable and give more warm assurance than vinyl and can be cut and mitered, much the same as genuine wood.
-
Vinyl
You can frame this flexible trim around smooth bends or cause it to fit in with a wall that isn’t square.
It fits firmly against a wall and won’t split, since it twists where wooden embellishment won’t. Vinyl shaping is accessible in any profile that standard wood forming comes in.
Vinyl shaping is typically white in shading, yet has one major benefit as a baseboard: it’s flexible.
It may be very well painted and it is anything but difficult to miter or cut with practically any sort of saw.
It’s moderate for two reasons: there are no imperfections, and you can utilize each and every inch of it in view of its consistency.
How To Cut Baseboard Corner’s Without A Miter Saw?
-
Use the miter box
It comprises a small, plastic box, which is rectangular in shape and a back saw, which is small and a stiffed hand saw is set-in into pre-cut angles.
This process can be slow, but it will give you a clean cut, when there is no other available means.
Follow the pre-cut angles, and cut through the base board by hand using the back saw.
A miter box is quite old fashioned but it is still in use by many people who like to be handy with minimal resources.
A great tool to replace the miter saw for usage in emergencies.
-
Trim cutting
Cut 25 degrees from the miter along this pencil line. It is called adapting for it is generally finished with an adapting saw.
There will be a fit over of the cut’s end and in opposition to the current trim as though you performed an engraved cut. At the point of the row at the top is where you find the trim,
cautiously cut and the directness of the vertical face line. You should describe a pencil line that is going to be the shape of the baseboard beside the mitered edge.
However, any turning device harboring a blade for cutting can imitate the cut. It will resemble a mitered cut, however, without the hole of a terrible cut.
-
Baseboard Installed Without Miters
This baseboard fashion uses a square that is specifically built to fit the corners. Mitering requirement is expelled by the block as a level surface is made toward the side of the block.
For baseboards lacking mitered corners, a similar kind of estimation process occurs.
Before baseboard measurement is taken, the block is laid, with the objective of representing the sturdiness of the block in the estimate.
This allows straight cutting of the two parts of the trim casting.
-
Hand cutting tool
With this portable cutting tool, you can easily cut or trim your baseboard. Place the handheld cutting tool upon the miter guide and pull the trigger upward to turn on.
Shove the cutting tool to and fro, as you use the guide to support the blade as the tool cut clean across the baseboard. The angle is chosen as the guide is fitted to the baseboard with screws.
-
Baseboard coping
Another technique is cutting a baseboard used to keep away from cutting mitered corners.
Next to the pinnacle edge of the trim is the setting of a 450craftsman’s triangle, and a drawn miter line like the wood was cut to fit a generally baseboard cut with a miter saw, the main bit of the trim is estimated and laid level to the edge and wall.
A subsequent vertical line proceeding with the initial line is pinched on the exterior.
How To Cut Baseboard Corner’s With Circular Saw?
By adjusting the bracket of the circular saw, you can cut pieces of trim for both molding joints or a specific angle cut.
You can cut both wide or low profile baseboards using both square and straight bevel cuts, and this tool is perfect for it.
Follow These Steps To Make Cuts With Perfection
- Mark two holes at the top and bottom, all the way, in every direction. Make sure the holes aren’t too close to each other. then, you need to drill four nail holes with the pivot bit in every corner-block trim piece
- Next, use a hammer to put trim nails through the holes on each exposed side of the block, right into the wall behind it, providing stability. place a block in one corner of the room. Put a level next to it, making sure it’s straight.
- Then, sink the nail heads using a nail set. Repeat the steps until you have mounted corner blocks in every corner of the room.
- Place another mark several inches away from the end of a trim, to make another mark, starting the measurement from there. Use a measuring tape to measure in between two corner blocks, from their inside edges. Then use a pencil to mark the longer piece of trim.
- On both marks, mark straight lines across the trim. Make sure that the lines are completely square using a try square from your tools.
- Using a circular saw, cut the trim gently alongside the two lines.
- Drill in pilot holes at 15 inches along the lower and upper edges of the trim piece. But before drilling place the cut trim in between the corner blocks, making sure the square ends of the trim face against each other at the block sides
- Place the finish nails with a hammer. Use a nail set to sink the heads below the surface. Repeat this for every part of the wall between every corner block.
How To Cut Baseboard Corner’s With A Hand Saw?
You can still cut baseboard corners using a hand saw and a miter box. However, you’ll need some glue, an adjustable bevel, some wood screws, a screwdriver, a carpenter’s square, and 1×6 and 1×4 lumber
Follow these steps to get the job done
- It’s more important to get wood which is warp-free, and completely straight. The type of wood doesn’t matter, but if you can, get oak or fir. Cut two 12-inch lengths of 1×6 lumber and 12-inch length of 1×4 lumber.
- Apply wood glue along the two long edges of the 1×4 lumber and place it flat on the work table. Place the 1×6 lumber upright against every edge and use a screwdriver and ½ wood screws to screw the 1×6 in the 1×4 lumber. When finished, you’ll have a four-inch open box.
- Use a carpenter’s square to draw a perpendicular line on the outside of the box, from the angled line intersection to the bottom of the makeshift box. Then place the bevel to 45- degrees and mark the top edge angles on the two sides of the box with a pencil.
- Make sure the ends of the hand saw are aligned to the perpendicular lines on the side. Align your handsaw with the angled marks at the boxes’ top edges, and cut through the sides top to bottom.
- Hold the saw within the kerf as you cut the baseboard. Using the box and the handsaw to cut the baseboard. Keep the baseboard up against the side of the box, using the mark on the baseboard to show you the length of the kerf in the box.
How To Cut Baseboard Corner’s With A Jigsaw?
Jigsaws are certainly cheaper than miter saws, and maybe you have one in the shed already.
Yes, a miter saw is better for installing baseboards or crown molding, but you can also use a jigsaw if you don’t have another way to cut baseboard corners or crown molding.
While using a jigsaw to cut a baseboard corner or crown molding is rather difficult, it can be done with a high-speed jigsaw model with adjustable speed setting.
You can make three types of cuts when cutting any kind of trim such as baseboard or crown molding. You can use the miter cut, the scarf cut or the coping cut.
You need a pencil, a speed square, and a tape measure for making more precise cuts. The saw should have at least 10, if not 15 blade teeth.
If you want to make coped joint cuts or coping corner cuts, you’ll need a coping saw too, or you can simply tilt the jigsaw to the side when attempting a coping cut.
How To Straight And Miter Cut?
The following steps will help you to make a miter and straight cut on a jigsaw:
- Mark the cut point using a pencil. Use a speed square to mark the cutting line. Use a tape measure to measure the baseboard from one end to the cutting point.
- The shoe should be resting flat on the baseboard. Ensure that the baseboard is secured, but with enough leeway for the blade off the bench or the floor. Pick up the jigsaw, and place it so the blade is on the waste side of your cutting line.
- Optionally, you can guide the shoe with a speed square. Turn the switch on and let the jigsaw reach full speed. Slowly ease it onto the baseboard. Guide the blade until you finalize the cut.
How To Cut Coped Joints?
A baseboard serves as a half of a coped corner, which fits flat against the wall, without bevel, and the jigsaw is the perfect tool for this cut.
This method is much harder than a straight miter cut. Still, it provides a better fit, so it’s definitely worth the effort.
Make sure you follow these steps to the word, in order to make such cuts
- First, you need to cut the baseboard in length, using a bevel cut would be best, so it exposes the grain end of the baseboard. That way, the jigsaw has more working material.
- After that, you need to do a back-cut using the jigsaw, alongside the decorative baseboard’s curve.
- Then, ensure the work piece is safely clamped down on a bench.
- Make a curved, 45- degrees angle cut with the jigsaw, to the baseboard’s backside, alongside its surface.
- Use sandpaper to finish or file the baseboard. Make sure the other corner fits as well. Ensure that the socket from the back cut is fitting the face of the other side of your baseboard.
- Use some nails and glue to install and secure the baseboard.
- Finally, add paint and caulking around any slight gaps or joints if necessary.
Conclusion
That is how to successfully cut molding, whether it be your standard baseboard or crown molding without using a miter saw.
Introducing baseboards in your house is a moderately clear approach to tidy the spot. The circular saw and jigsaw methods are easier – if you have these tools, you’re in luck.
With the jigsaw, you have a big variety of cuts, and when you get familiar with them, you’ll make some pretty sweet finishes for your baseboards or crown molding, making installing them much easier.
While it might seem like the general procedure is simple enough for a person who likes to do it themselves, cutting baseboards can be a daunting task.
Although miter Saws are very effective in cutting boards or metals. You don’t need a miter saw to make these cuts, albeit you’d have a much easier time with it cutting any molding or type of baseboards.
The guidelines above, when properly followed will undoubtedly help you cut your baseboards to your utmost satisfaction.
Keep in mind though, if you plan on installing a significant amount of trim molding or something more complicated such as crown molding, personally, I’d bite the bullet and buy a compound miter saw.
Again, this really depends on your workload and deadline.