How to use a mitre box to cut coving?
How to use a mitre box to cut coving?
Mitre boxes are tools that are used to aid in making precise angled cuts when sawing. They provide a platform to easily cut set angles into wood, taking out the hassle of measuring before every cut.
The mitre box can save a lot of time if you are regularly making angled cuts as well as straight cuts due to it’s assistance in stopping the saws blade or the cutting material from moving.
In this article we provide a full step by step guide to cutting internal and external coving using a mitre box. The final section then provides a how to guide for joining two lengths of coving together.
Preparation of the Material
A tenon saw with its fine teeth is ideal for cutting coving, creating a neat and precise cut.
However, for large types of coving (e.g. 280mm (11inch) x 223mm (8.75inch)) an adjustable mitre box should be used and a deep bladed tenon saw may also be required.
Securing the mitre box in your vice or attaching it to your workbench will give you added stability when you are sawing.
Whenever you intend to cut coving it’s important to measure the length of coving required and mark the position the coving is to be cut with a pencil.
A tenon saw with its fine teeth is ideal for cutting coving, creating a neat and precise cut.
However, for large types of coving (e.g. 280mm (11inch) x 223mm (8.75inch)) an adjustable mitre box should be used and a deep bladed tenon saw may also be required.
Securing the mitre box in your vice or attaching it to your workbench will give you added stability when you are sawing.
Whenever you intend to cut coving it’s important to measure the length of coving required and mark the position the coving is to be cut with a pencil.
Coving internal corners with a mitre box
Step 1 – Place coving in mitre box
Place the coving in the mitre box with the wall edge of the coving sitting against the mitre box side closest to you and the ceiling edge of the coving against the base of the box (upside down as it would appear on the wall).
The point at which the coving should be cut should be lined up with the 45 degree saw guide slot on the right hand side of the mitre box wall (the side closest to you).
Step 2 – Cut at 45 degree angle
Simply cut at a 45 degree angle from bottom right to top left of the mitre box. The piece of coving to the right of the saw blade can be discarded.
Step 3 – Cuttin the right hand section
For the right hand section, place the coving in the mitre box with the wall edge of the coving sitting against the mitre box side closest to you and the ceiling edge of the coving against the base of the box (upside down as it would appear on the wall).
The point at which the coving should be cut should be lined up with the 45 degree saw guide slot on the left hand side of the mitre box.
Step 4 – Cut at 45 degree angle
Simply cut at a 45 degree angle from bottom left to top right of the mitre box. The piece of coving to the left hand side of the saw blade can be discarded.
Step 5 – Finished internal corner
This is what an internal corner should look like. On an internal corner, the wall edge is always the longest side of the mitre.
Coving internal corners with a mitre box
Step 1 – Place coving in mitre box
For the left hand piece, place the coving in the mitre box with the wall edge of the coving sitting against the mitre box side closest to you and the ceiling edge of the coving against the base of the box.
Step 2 – Cut at 45 degree angle
Simply cut at a 45 degree angle from bottom left to top right of the mitre box. The piece of coving to the right hand side of the saw blade can be discarded.
Step 3 – Cutting the right hand section
For the right hand piece, place the coving in the right hand side of the box with the wall edge of the coving sitting against the mitre box side closest to you and the ceiling edge of the coving against the base of the box.
Step 4 – Cut at 45 degree angle
Simply cut at a 45 degree angle from bottom right to top left of the mitre box. The piece of coving to the left hand side of the saw blade can be discarded.
Step 5 – Finished external corner
This is what an external corner should look like. On an external corner, the wall edge is always the shortest side of the mitre.
Joining two lengths of coving with a mitre box
Step 1 – Joining lengths of coving
To join two lengths of coving, simply put the left hand piece to be cut into the left hand side of the mitre box.
Step 2 – Place coving into mitre box
Make sure the wall side of coving is against the side of the box closest to you and the ceiling side of the coving is at the bottom of the box.
Step 3 – Cut from bottom left to top right
Take a sharp saw and cut from the bottom left to the top right in the 45 degree slot.
Step 4 – Cut right hand side of coving
For the right hand side of the joint simply put the right hand piece in the right hand side of the mitre box.
Step 5 – Place coving in mitre box
Make sure the wall side of coving is against the side of the box closest to you and the ceiling side of the coving is at the bottom of the box.
Step 6 – Cut from bottom left to top right
Take your saw and cut from the bottom left to the top right of the mitre box to produce a 45 degree cut.
Step 7 – Finished joint
Take the two 45 degree faces on the coving and place them together to create a perfect straight joint with no unsightly gaps.
