Cutting Crown Molding - DeWalt DWS780 Instruction Manual

Cutting Base Molding (Fig. S)
ALWAYS MAKE A DRY RUN WITHOUT POWER BEFORE MAKING ANY CUTS.
Straight 90° cuts:
Position the wood against the fence and hold it in place as shown in Figure S. Turn on the saw,
allow the blade to reach full speed and lower the arm smoothly through the cut.
Fig. S
Cutting Base Molding up to 6.75" (171 mm) Vertically Against
the Fence (Fig. K, S)
NOTE: Use the slide lock lever, shown in Figure K, when cutting base molding measuring from 3"
to 6.75" (76 mm to 171 mm) high vertically against the fence.
Position material as shown in Figure S.
All cuts should be made with the back of the molding against the fence and with the bottom of
the molding against the table.
Inside corner
1. Miter left 45°
Left side
2. Save left side of cut
1. Miter right 45°
Right side
2. Save right side of cut
Material up to 6.5" (165 mm) can be cut as described above.

Cutting Crown Molding

Your miter saw is better suited to the task of cutting crown molding than any tool made. In order
to fit properly, crown molding must be compound mitered with extreme accuracy.
The two flat surfaces on a given piece of crown molding are at angles that, when added together,
equal exactly 90°. Most, but not all, crown molding has a top rear angle (the section that fits flat
against the ceiling) of 52° and a bottom rear angle (the part that fits flat against the wall) of 38°.
Your miter saw has special pre-set miter latch points at 31.6° left and right for cutting crown
molding at the proper angle and bevel stop pawls at 33.9° left and right. There is also a mark on
the bevel scale at 33.9°.
The chart below gives the proper settings for cutting crown molding. (The numbers for the miter
and bevel settings are very precise and are not easy to accurately set on your saw.) Since most
rooms do not have angles of precisely 90º, you will have to fine tune your settings anyway.
PRETESTING WITH SCRAP MATERIAL IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!
Instructions for Cutting Crown Molding Laying Flat and Using
the Compound Features (Fig. A, T)
1. Molding laying with broad back surface down flat on saw table
Fig. T
2. Top of molding against fence .
10
3. The settings below are for all standard (U.S.) crown molding with 52° and 38° angles.
10
Outside corner
1. Miter right 45°
2. Save left side of cut
1. Miter left 45°
2. Save right side of cut
16 .
10
16
Inside corner
1. Bevel left 33.9°
Left side 2. Miter table set at right 31.62°
3. Save left end of cut
1. Bevel right 33.9°
Right side 2. Miter table set at left 31.62°
3. Save right end of cut
When setting bevel and miter angles for all compound miters, remember that:
The angles presented for crown moldings are very precise and difficult to set exactly. Since they
can easily shift slightly and very few rooms have exactly square corners, all settings should be tested
on scrap molding.
PRETESTING WITH SCRAP MATERIAL IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!
Alternative Method for Cutting Crown Molding (Fig. U)
Place the molding on the table at an angle between the sliding fence
table 16 , as shown in Figure U. Use of the crown molding fence accessory (DW7084) is highly
recommended because of its degree of accuracy and convenience. The crown molding fence
accessory is available for purchase from your local dealer.
The advantage to cutting crown molding using this method is that no bevel cut is required.
Minute changes in the miter angle can be made without affecting the bevel angle. This way,
when corners other than 90° are encountered, the saw can be quickly and easily adjusted for
them. Use the crown molding fence accessory to maintain the angle at which the molding will
be on the wall.
Fig. U
10
Instructions for Cutting Crown Molding Angled Between the
Fence and Base of the Saw for All Cuts
1. Angle the molding so the bottom of the molding (part which goes against the wall when
installed) is against the fence and the top of the molding is resting on the base of the saw, as
shown in Figure U.
2. The angled "flats" on the back of the molding must rest squarely on the fence and base of
the saw.
Inside corner
1. Miter right 45°
Left side
2. Save right side of cut
1. Miter left 45°
Right side
2. Save left side of cut
Special Cuts
NEVER MAKE ANY CUT UNLESS THE MATERIAL IS SECURED ON THE TABLE AND AGAINST
THE FENCE.
Aluminum Cutting (Fig. A, V, W)
ALWAYS USE THE APPROPRIATE SAW BLADE MADE ESPECIALLY FOR CUTTING ALUMINUM. These
are available at your local D WALT retailer or D
E
their size, shape or surface finish, may require the use of a clamp or fixture to prevent movement
during the cut. Position the material so that you will be cutting the thinnest cross section, as
shown in Figure V. Figure W illustrates the wrong way to cut these extrusions.
Use a stick wax cutting lubricant when cutting aluminum. Apply the stick wax directly to the saw
blade 38 before cutting. Never apply stick wax to a moving blade.
The wax, available at most hardware stores and industrial mill supply houses, provides proper
lubrication and keeps chips from adhering to the blade.
Be sure to properly secure workpiece.
Outside corner
1. Bevel right 33.9°
2. Miter table set at left 31.62°
3. Save left end of cut
1. Bevel left 33.9°
2. Miter table set at right 31.62°
3. Save right end of cut
and the saw
10
16
Outside corner
1. Miter left 45°
2. Save right side of cut
1. Miter right 45°
2. Save left side of cut
WALT service center. Certain workpieces, due to
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