Miter spring clamps for crown moulding

[branimal]

I'm debating ordering some spring clamps & pliers to do my kitchen crown moulding. Looks handy for outside corners on crown and baseboard. B/c my crown is 18" lower than the ceiling, I could probably use the clamps on the inside corners as well.

Anyone use these for crown? Worth it?

Collins miter clamps for $46 : Collins amazon link
Chinese knock off for $29: Chinese miter clamps

 

[signcrafter]

I have had the collins clamps for years and love them for outside corners on trim. Use them for other things also. Another great option is CA glue.

 

[MoonRise]

Those type clamps can work just fine, but they do leave a hole where the points grabbed the wood.

Not that one couldn't use them for crown or baseboard molding, but why?

Fit the trim well, and install. If paint grade trim, caulk any gap (if pretty minor, you can 'burnish' over the gap to close it up) and then paint. If stain grade trim, put wood filler/putty any gap and then stain and varnish.

If you want to use some glue on the mitered corners (outside corners ONLY, inside corners get COPED!!!), use a 'thick' glue (Titebond makes a trim/molding glue made just for this type application http://titebond.com/product/glues/a1e18a48-c721-4b0b-8f63-259c477919e0 ) and a thin coat and then make a "rubbed joint" (literally rub the two pieces together to spread the glue and get it into the wood pores/fibers better and when the glue 'grabs' you know you have the beginning of a good glue joint).

Or you just a pin nailer to shoot a pin across the joint to hold the joint together while the glue dries. Could maybe use a brad or trim nailer, but that leaves a small hole from the head of the brad or trim nail that has to be filled (caulk or filler/putty). The pin nailer hole is so small you usually don't have to do anything.

 

[shoot summ]

They work great, not a tool I use often, but when I do they are great.

 

[jar944]

Yes they are nice to have and worth the price imho. You also want a 23g pinner as well.

Inside corners on cabinets are better off glued and stitched than coped, Also my opinion but less humbly.

 

[branimal]

I've tried coping inside corners a couple of times. I had no luck. And I was using a coping saw. What I've done to get an okay fit is measure the corner with an angle finder, cut accordingly and when fitting into the corner sand down excess material with a dremel.

23GA pin nailer.... I guess with the glue & the pins (max 1") they can support the weight of crown molding? My crown is 1/2" thick at the nailing location. So I would only get 1/2" penetration in the cabinets.

@jar944 I like the idea of pre-building my crown and installing in sections. Do you pre-build only for inside corners? Or both inside and outside corners?

Thanks

 

[engineer2]

Make sure you use wood glue in the corners too.

 

[Nortonscustom]

That is pretty cool. Was just at Menards the other day looking at the Trim Clip but those spring clamps seem like they would be more versatile.

 

[jar944]

23GA pin nailer.... I guess with the glue & the pins (max 1") they can support the weight of crown molding? My crown is 1/2" thick at the nailing location. So I would only get 1/2" penetration in the cabinets.

@jar944 I like the idea of pre-building my crown and installing in sections. Do you pre-build only for inside corners? Or both inside and outside corners?

Thanks

Inside and outside.

 

[MoonRise]

Pin nailer to hold the corners together while the glue dries. Installed with a finish nailer.

I don't usually feel that a pin nailer is 'enough' to mount bigger trim. Small cabinet trim, sure. Crown molding or baseboard in a room, not a big enough nail if you try to install it with a pin nailer (the finish nail has to go through the trim, and the drywall/plaster, and then into the bottom or top plate or a stud in the wall). The glue holds the pinned joint together and the finish nail holds the trim to the wall. YMMV.