Obtaining Tight Miters With 45 Degree Angles in Finish Carpentry

Since most people in all likelihood understand that two 45 degree angles cut onto two pieces of trim wood, for example, door casing will create a perfect 90 degree mitered corner. When trimming doors as well as windows this might be regarded as the analogy nonetheless is seriously a long way from reality when trying to accomplish nice tight 90 degree miters in finish carpentry.

Truth be told there can be a number of small factors that may well and do change such so termed picture perfect analogy. Why don't we have a look at a couple of these issues so most people can get the nice tight miters needed for ones own personal trim projects.


In the event that you might be trimming a door or window the initial thing to check for is making sure the outer edge of the jamb is even with the inside wall. If this is completely flush all the way around you are generally good in order to move forward. If perhaps not then you will have to to correct this issue and there are actually a number ways to do this depending on your individual scenario.

The jamb may be sticking out past your wall or maybe it is possibly short of reaching the inside wall whatever the circumstance it has to be flush so the casing sits flat against the wall and jamb without being tipped in or out. There are a number of finish carpentry web sites on the internet to quickly find solutions to your particular problem to remedy this situation.

When you are comfortable the casing is likely to be flat as possible the next detail is getting ready to cut the angles on both ends of the top section of casing. I will typically start with the top piece of casing whenever trimming doors and windows.Then proceed on with either of the side pieces of casing.

A single very important factor for tight miters is being certain there is a back cut on the 45 degree cuts. This particular back cut or bevel will be so the face or outside of the casing will be extended therefore the two 45 degree cuts will meet at the face or outside of the casing together before the back of the actual casing meets together. Cutting this bevel upon the 45 degree angle cuts makes tighter miters less difficult to achieve.

45 degree angles only work when the casing is perfectly flat. When the casing is tipped inward or outward this will certainly result in the angle to change somewhat. Practice using several scrap pieces of casing to find out exactly what the angle is prior to cutting the actual piece that will be nailed on in the event the casing is slightly tipped either way. All of these miters need to be glued as well as pinned / nailed.
Regardless, all miters require to be worked a little in order to end up with them perfectly tight.