For clean crown-molding corners, choose one of two saw setups before cutting: hold the molding vertically at its installed spring angle, or lay it flat and make a compound miter-and-bevel cut. The right angles and which cut end to keep depend on the molding profile, corner, and saw setup. Measure the molding, check your saw manual, and test the setup on scrap.
Choose the crown-molding cutting method
| Method | Saw settings | Main setup concern | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertically nested | Miter only; no bevel cut. DEWALT’s example uses a 45° miter for inside and outside corners. | Keep the molding seated at its installed spring angle, with both back flats squarely against the fence and table. | A saw and fence that support the molding’s height and shape. |
| Flat compound | Both miter and bevel. | Lay the broad back flat on the table; follow the saw’s exact chart for orientation, cut direction, and retained end. | A compound saw setup when holding the molding vertically is impractical. |
Neither method is a universal winner. Nested cuts avoid bevel adjustments, but depend on stable spring-angle positioning and adequate saw capacity. Flat cuts require coordinating two angles; on a single-bevel saw, opposing cuts require flipping the molding. DEWALT’s instructions for its DW716/DW718 double-bevel workflow use a different orientation and avoid flipping, so do not transfer that procedure to another saw without checking its manual. See DEWALT’s DWS716 instruction manual for its own profile tables and setup diagrams.
Identify the molding profile and corner angle
Do not set the saw from a generic “crown molding” angle. DEWALT’s flat-cut example for standard U.S. 52°/38° crown at a 90° corner is 31.62° miter and 33.85° bevel. Those figures apply to that profile, corner, and flat compound method—not to every molding or saw.
DEWALT’s guide includes charts for 52°/38° and 45°/45° crown profiles and wall angles from 67° to 179°. The DWS716 manual’s indexed excerpt also gives approximate settings for both profiles. Use the exact manual and diagrams for your saw rather than combining rounded manual values with another model’s chart.
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How to cut crown molding vertically nested
- Set the molding in its installed orientation. Place the bottom edge against the saw fence and the top edge against the saw table. Seat the angled back flats squarely against both surfaces.
- Set the miter. DEWALT’s nested-method example specifies a 45° miter for inside and outside corners, with no bevel cut. The left/right piece, swing direction, and end you retain differ by corner type; use the chart for your saw and the exact joint.
- Support and verify the setup. Keep the molding firmly seated through the cut, and confirm the saw’s capacity covers its size. DEWALT lists model-specific nested crown capacities of up to 4½ inches for DW713, 5¼ inches for DW715, and 6⅝ inches for DW716/DW718. These limits are not general ratings for other saws.
How to cut crown molding flat with compound angles
- Lay the molding broad-back-down. The broad rear surface rests on the saw table. Use the chart that matches the profile and corner angle.
- Set both angles. For DEWALT’s 52°/38° crown, 90° corner example, use 31.62° miter and 33.85° bevel. Confirm that these settings and the chart’s left/right symbols match your saw’s method.
- Orient each piece as the saw manual directs. On a single-bevel saw, opposing cuts require flipping the molding. DEWALT’s DW716/DW718 double-bevel instructions instead keep the top against the fence and avoid flipping; that is a model-specific workflow.
- Check the saved end before cutting. Inside and outside corners use different cut directions and retained ends. Identify the piece and the end that belongs in the finished joint from the saw’s chart before making the cut.
Inside versus outside corners: follow the correct cut and keep the correct piece
Do not mirror a setting or assume the same side of the cut is retained for both corner types. Charts distinguish inside from outside joints and left from right pieces, and their diagrams may be specific to a nested, single-bevel, or double-bevel setup. Mark each molding piece’s wall and end, then match its position to the exact chart before cutting. A correct angle with the wrong orientation or saved end still produces the wrong joint.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Test the fit and adjust carefully
Room corners are often not exactly square, and small differences can leave a visible gap. DEWALT’s guide says, “PRETESTING WITH SCRAP MATERIAL IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!” Cut matching test pieces from scrap of the same profile, place them as they will sit on the wall, and inspect the joint before cutting finished lengths. If the corner is out of square, measure its angle and use the chart or manual for that angle and method; adjust the miter system as directed rather than assuming a 90° corner. Keep the molding seated the same way during test and final cuts.
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