Cutting the baseboard corner is a sensitive work and people need lots of expertise to make the cut accurate. As a beginner, you must know the basics and types of corners to cut the baseboards appropriately. It will help you to cut the baseboard in an accurate direction.
Miter saw is the perfect tool that people use to cut baseboard inside and corners. Depending on the type, capacity, and power, you have to cut your baseboard. Before we dive in, let’s learn about the types of joints.
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Common Types of Baseboard Joints
You will notice 4 major types of joints in baseboards that you need to understand. This will help you to cut your baseboard properly and joint them as well.
- Miter Joint
- Scarf Joint
- Coped Joints
- Butt Joint
Miter Joint:
Miter Joint is formed with two beveled parts at 45 degrees that make a 90-degree corner. It’s a common type of joint you will notice on baseboards.
When you join two different boards to create a corner, you need to create a miter joint using a miter saw. The joint is strong enough and able to handle high-pressure.
Scarf Joint:
Scarf Joint is a longitudinal joint that places on the same board. When you need to extend your board, you can cut and join two tapered ends.
The method helps to enlarge your baseboard and keep the board operational. You can cut the baseboard as like the miter joint but in the opposite direction. This will help you to join them easily.
Coped Joints:
Coped Joints are similar to miter joint but comparatively elevated. Two different baseboard ends with two different shapes. One ends with a butt joint and the other one ends in trimmed shape.
The trimmed cut is uniformly fit to the first end that forms a strong bonding between the baseboards.
You need to practice properly to learn the coped joint method. Though the method seems complex at first look, you can learn it if you try.
Butt Joint:
Butt Joint is a simple type of joint that anyone can make easily. You just need to join the ends of the workpieces using conventional materials.
Keep the baseboards parallel and join them. Both you can use metal or wood pieces to join them. Depending on your requirements, you have to joint them.
How to Cut Baseboard Inside Corners with Miter Saw?
So, we know about all the corners and joint types happen on the baseboards. Depending on the corner types, we need to cut the baseboard. It will help to joint them accurately without breaking the baseboard.
To perform baseboard corner-cutting with a miter saw, we need some basic tools and equipment.
What Do We Need to Cut Baseboard Inside Corners?
- A Miter Saw
- A Measuring Tape
- A Pencil
- Dust mask
- Safety Glasses
- Crosscut Saw
- A Clamp
These are basic baseboard cutting tools that we will use on our project. Here, we will discuss the corner-cutting using the miter saw to help you learn the cutting process appropriately.
Step By Step: How to Cut Baseboard Inside Corners?
1. Mark Direction to Cut the First Baseboard:
To get the perfect cut on the baseboard, you must need a good quality baseboard. Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) and Plastic made boards are perfect that you can cut smoothly.
Using a pencil, you have to mark a direction where you want to cut. This is the first and essential step that will help you with effective baseboard corner-cutting using a miter saw.
You will cut the baseboard in a 45-degree direction. So, place the baseboard at the flat position. You can place it to ground and mark the baseboard.
It will help you to get prepare for the cut. When cutting the board hold it tightly, so, you get accurate cutting. You can use a measuring tape for marking the board.
2. Set the Saw Before Starting the Cut:
Your next duty is setting the miter saw at 45-degree. Using the miter saw adjusting tool, you can easily set the miter saw at a 45-degree position.
Try to set the miter in the exact position. Otherwise, it can damage the baseboard or the joint will not be appropriate.
If you misplace the board or miter saw, it will impact on the joint. So, measure the position and place your materials in an appropriate position. It will help you to cut and joint the baseboard properly.
3. Remove Melted Plastic After Cutting:
When you cut the baseboard, it produces some melted plastic on the edge. You have to remove it for the perfect joint of your boards.
It’s also the reason for a low-quality joint that can break easily. So, you have to clean the melted areas properly before you joint your boards.
Though this is unfortunate, but you will experience the issue in plastic baseboards most of the time. This type of lip or melted plastic produces by the friction of the saw blade.
If you cut multiple boards at the same time, it can be heated for friction and cause melted plastic.
4. Set the Saw for the Second Board Cutting:
To cut the second board, you have to move the saw fence to the opposite 45-degree-ish side. The second board cut will be on the opposite side, so, you can join them in a 90-degree position. When you cutting the second board, consider the fact carefully.
5. Measure the Cut in the Place:
When cutting the baseboard corners, you should measure the board in the place. This will help you with repositioning the cut and knowing the accuracy of your board as well.
You can set the board together and check the positioning, if it’s perfect or not. You can mark the position on the wall or place where you are going the set the baseboard. It will help with the effective placement of your boards.
Final Words:
Cutting the baseboard corners using the miter saw is a confusing task for beginners. But following this step by step guide, you can easily cut the baseboard corners effectively.