As we did last Christmas, we spoke of the fact that us better carpenters/woodworkers/installers cope our inside joints as needed to cover out of square joints in trim of all sorts. And we agree that never is it more important than doing this on crown molding.
But I just finished up the kitchen I told you about, and put the typical 2 1/2" crown around the cabinets. I don't think I have ever used a harder wood. It was marked as maple on the unfinished side, but should have been marked aircraft grade aluminum. I got the joints where I wanted them, but the inside corners took me right at 30 minutes to cope and fit! Each! An hour for two joints!
Usually I knock these out in about 15 minutes or so (each)to fit to my spec, including the cope and final fit with my large stockman. My usual gear:
The last time I used trim this hard was when I built a set of barrister's book cases and put a little removable dimensional piece that sat on the very top unit like a hat. I trimmed out the hat piece with white oak crown moulding to match the white oak cabinets and got the bright idea it should be kiln dried to keep the joints from moving when secured. After making the profiling cut on the miter saw, I wound up cutting most of the material away with a belt sander as I ran out of patience and time removing that white oak with a coping saw.
Have you run into any of this trim? Is THIS why your guys don't want to cope the inside corners? With another couple of kitchens on the horizon I know I will have to cut this stuff myself to make sure I like the finished product and will have to make sure I price accordingly.
I am hearing the dark side of mitered inside corners calling to me....
Robert
P.S.: Loved the chairs. With your design and execution and Linda's finish strokes, they are gorgeous.