For those that don’t know, quarter round is a special type of crown molding. In other words, instead of a half circle, you have a quarter circle. One side flat against the ground, another flat against the wall, and the rest forms a quarter circle.
Generally speaking, one of the best ways to cut quarter round is by using a miter saw. They are very versatile tools and they are perfect for this task. Let’s get to it and talk about how to cut quarter round with a miter saw.
Is Miter Saw the Best Tool for Cutting Quarter Round?
Generally speaking, yes, a miter saw is by far the best tool to use for this task. When you cut quarter round, you always have to consider the angle. You might need the quarter round to lay flat against each other, you may have to put it in an outside corner, or an inside corner. This means that you do of course have to properly measure the angle at which you cut the ends of the quarter round.
Seeing as a miter saw has a built-in miter function to allow you to easily adjust the angle of the blade, it is a rather perfect tool to use for this task. That said, it is of course not the only tool that you can use for this task.
Many people also use basic jigsaws and circular saws. The trick here is of course that you first have to measure the angle before making the cut. A miter saw allows you to accurately measure the angle and adjust the blade angle, as well as to make the cut, all in one fell swoop.
If you aren’t using a miter saw, you will have to take care of the measuring first, use a miter box, and then make your cut. Therefore, a miter saw is an easiest and fastest tool for cutting quarter round, especially at angles.
How to Cut Quarter Round with a Miter Saw
Now that you know that a miter saw is the best tool to use to cut quarter round, we want to take you through a step-by-step tutorial on exactly how to do so. As long as you follow the steps listed below, you should have no problem being able to cut your own quarter round with a basic miter saw.
1. Get the Right Kind of Quarter Round
You will first need to purchase the right kind of quarter round for your purposes. Generally speaking, these are sold in either 8- or 16-foot pieces. Therefore, you do first need to measure the width or length of your walls to determine the right kind of quarter round to get.
Also, keep in mind that quarter round you can be purchased in a variety of wood types. Of course, the type of what you purchase is completely up to you.
2. Prepare the Area and Yourself
The next step to cutting quarter round with your miter saw is all about preparation. First, make sure that your miter saw is in working condition. This means that it needs to have a sharp blade more than anything else.
Second, if you are cutting a lot of quarter round, it is a good idea to have a dust extraction system hooked up. If you have to cut a lot of these quarter round pieces, it can make quite a mess. Alternatively, you could also work outside to avoid a big cleanup. If working inside, set down some kind of tarp or sheet to catch the majority of the sawdust.
You then also want to ensure that you are properly prepared yourself, which means wearing protective gear. At the very least, make sure that you don’t have any long and baggy sleeves, that you are wearing eye protection, and ear protection helps as well.
3. Measure and Mark the Quarter Round
You now need to measure how long you need to cut your court around, and the angle at which you need to cut it. Now, chances are that you will not need a perfectly straight cut. Quarter round is usually long enough so that a single piece can cover the entire width of a room.
However, you may still need to attach two or more together to form one straight line. Of course, this is easily done because you just need a perfectly straight 90 degree cut.
That said, things do get a little more difficult when you need to cut quarter rounds at specific angles, which is the case for both inside corners and outside corners. Take a look below for reference on how to measure and cut quarter round for both inside and outside corners:
- Most corners are 90-degree angles. For an inside corner, you need two pieces to come together to form a 90-degree angle. Therefore, both pieces will need to be cut at 45-degree angles. For the left side, miter at a degree of 45 degrees to the right, and save the right end of the cut. For the right side, cut at an angle of 45 degrees to the left, and save the left end of the cut.
- For outside corners, you want to do the exact opposite. For an outside corner, you are going to miter the left side piece at an angle of 45 degrees to the left, and you will save the right end of the cut. For the right side, you are going to cut at an angle of 45 degrees to the right, and save the left end of the cut.
With everything properly measured, you just now need to mark the spot on the court around where you need to make the cut.
4. Set the Saw to the Appropriate Angle
All you have to do now is to set your miter saw to the appropriate angle. Of course, you do need to follow the angle requirements or directions as listed directly above. In other words, you need to set your miter saw to either a 45-degree angle to the left or to the right, depending on the cut you are making. Keep in mind that not all types of miter saws can miter in both directions.
This is something you may need to account for, or in other words, if your saw can only miter to the right, in order to miter cut to the left, you will just need to flip the quarter round around. Life is made much easier if you have a compound miter saw that can miter in both directions.
5. Make Your Cuts
With your saw properly set up, place a quarter round against the fence of your miter saw. Then, turn the miter saw on and get it up to full speed, push the blade down and through the quarter round. You should now have a completely cut piece of quarter round that is ready to be attached to the wall.
Mistakes to Avoid, Tips & Tricks
Lastly, here are some additional tips and tricks to keep in mind:
- If you don’t have a miter saw, you do want to have either a protractor or a miter box. These 45-degree angles are not something that you want to measure out by eye. If you don’t get the exact angle, your molding won’t fit together right.
- These quarter-round molding pieces can be a bit fragile, so make sure that you are using the right type of miter saw blade, and that it is sharp.
- It’s probably a good idea to do one quick test round just to make sure that you have the angles right before you start cutting your actual quarter round.
- Always make sure to wear the proper personal protective equipment when working with any kind of power tool.
Summary
You should now know everything there is to know about cutting quarter round molding with a miter saw.
Remember, if you don’t have a miter saw, using a miter box along with any other kind of saw will also work. However, due to the mitering function of a miter saw, it is obviously the tool of choice for this task.