How can you cut a straight and accurate line in base molding (or crown molding) without taking the molding off the wall? and without wrecking the wall? and without chewing up the remaining molding?
It seems I often need to cut baseboard molding, and I very much do not want to take the molding off the wall, cut, re-install, patch, calk, and paint.
Since I have a bunch of pending projects that require this, any ideas are greatly appreciated! Thanks. —geoff
Replies
Geoff- I run into this alot. I do quite a bit of built in cabinetry. Sometimes the best way to do it is to take it off and cut and re-install. But What I do sometimes is mark a square line, and then I use an small inexpensive dovetail saw with I think 16 tpi fine tooth saw. When you cut it use short strokes and back bevel it about 2 degrees. This works great except for the very bottom of base against the floor. For that I use a sharp utility knife and a sharp chisel to clean it up. There's probably an easier way, but it works fine for me.
John E. Nanasy
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000223OP/qid=1035465626/sr=8-5/ref=sr_8_5/002-9160559-9058450?v=glance&s=home-garden&n=507846
Fein Multimaster has blades that flush cut. Think there was a fairly long thread on this in Breaktime within the last few weeks. It's a pretty good tool, and ought to get you close enough to clean up with just a small chisel on most of what you're getting at. Fair warning, some of the blades are pricey. The circular ones that cut grout out of ceramic are about $85 each, but they do a heck of a job. You can clean a stand up shower out in about 3-4 hours. Several are designed for various cuts into wood.
Hey the Fein looks really interesting. Do you also use it for sanding (its orignial purpose)? I've used the PC profile sander, and it was so aggressive as to be worthless.
I've also used a dremel with a small circular saw blade to cut molding, and its just about impossible to make it cut straight...and I couldn't go all the way down.
---geoff
I picked up the Fein sander last year specifically for trimming base molding while still on the wall. It works very well and is fast and clean. They have come way down on price too. The local Woodcraft sells one for around $225. The dovetail route works ok, but may do some damage to the existing wall or floor, as I have found out.
Have not tried it for sanding. I borrowed this from another contractor when I had to regrout a shower and was mostly just aware of the blades he had and what they did. I know they use it for what you said you were looking for - cutting moldings, etc in place when removal for whatever reason is impractical. I spent $86 on a new diamond cutter for the shower and put on a mask. I was impressed at how quick it went, and for the time savings, the $86 was inconsequential. I've cut grout lines by hand - simply not an option in a whole shower. Cheaper at that point to demo the wall and put up new tile.
I think the Fein is an great tool! You can get a little saw blade for it that has no set, and is only 0.02 inch thick. (Today is my birthday--so I took the day off and I have nothing better to do than measure the thickness of sawblades. Sad, isn't it?) The blade is a little flexible, though, so I would use a straightedge for something as wide as baseboard. The Fein is a great detail sander, too. I use it a lot for restoring old wooden window frames, getting into the corners on hardwood floors, etc. There's even aputty knife blade for it that makes digging out old caulk a lot faster. Nick
Would a spiral saw work (i.e. a dremel tool)?
Matt-
Sure a spiral saw would work. If you or the customer don't mind the base looking like a beaver chewed through it. Hell a circular saw or a sawzall would work too. This isn't rocket science. Why buy a expensive "flush" cut power saw for such a simple task? Makes no sense.John E. Nanasy
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