Looking for guidance.
Is there anyway to explain to me how I would add a 1/2″ x 1/2″ cove moulding piece to the top of this built-in dresser to cover the gap?
Please look at the photos.
There is a piece of trim on the side of the dresser that you cannot see. It connects to the wall at 90 degrees. Then…that piece connects to the transition piece and we cannot figure out what the angle should be for the left or right side of the transition piece..which then connects to the long straight piece in front…and then that connects to another transition piece, which mirrors the other side.
We have a rudimentary Stanley miter box with 90/45/22.5 angles. Do we need something else? I thought this was going to be uncomplicated, but I feel like a complete idiot. I just cannot figure it out. I loved woodworking in high school, but I should have taken more classes.
Would someone be able to guide me?
Any help is much appreciated. Thank you!
Bruce
Replies
What are the angles of the transition piece? They look to be 135 degrees. If that's the case, the 22.5 degree stop on the saw should work. Try it on some scrap.
From the looks of it the angles should be 22.5 deg. It could be off though so pick up a simple bevel gauge or angle finder like one of these to check and cut the angles to what you measure. They make all kinds of digital versions now but you don’t need them. A simple one should do the trick.
When you make the cut, lay the part that would go on the ceiling down in your miter box. If the angles are close to 22.5 deg, but not exact, you can shim the molding out in the front or back to go less than or greater than 22.5 deg.
https://www.amazon.com/IRWIN-Tools-T-Bevel-ABS-1794475/dp/B005XUHJLK/ref=sr_1_12?crid=3JSNSZUXNAQRU&keywords=bevel+gauge&qid=1671738886&sprefix=bevel+gauge,aps,116&sr=8-12
https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-Square-Metal-Protractor/dp/B00004T7TB/ref=sr_1_18?crid=38PGQT2ET975H&keywords=angle+gauge&qid=1671738681&sprefix=angle+gauge,aps,117&sr=8-18&th=1
The overall angles are 22.5° but the spring angle comes into play, how much the crown leans forward. Use this tool to figure out yours:
https://www.blocklayer.com/crown-molding
To see a project built using the tool:
https://www.tailspintools.com/small-dovetail-drawers-in-zebrawood/
The simple 90° corners leaning back at 45° (the green collar around the front of the case) needed some surprising angles cut.
You can make a simple angle gauge from two straight pieces of wood (preferably thin) and a nut, bolt, and washer as a pivot at one end. Then you can check to see if the angles at the transition ends are the same. If they are, you have 45º angles, and you can use 22.5º cuts (if the top edge of the existing crown mold is vertical. If not, you will need to use the technique in the previous answer.) If the two angles at the ends of the transition pieces are not equal, you will need to be able to bisect each angle. Let me know if you need to do that, and I can describe the process for you.