What angle do I cut the trim here?

by Faddu

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I have sloped ceiling and I can’t figure out how to cut the trim to go on the top of this bookshelf. I’m not doing crown molding, just a half round type trim. I’ve attached a pic of the angle finder numbers and the sloped ceiling. Thanks!

10 answers

William on Dec 03, 2021

Instructions (hopes this helps)
https://dengarden.com/home-improvement/How-to-Use-the-Empire-Protractor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUgtW3KDds8

1 marked as helpful Reply
Redcatcec on Dec 03, 2021

Hope this helps you:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/293930313173636797/

1 marked as helpful Reply
Mogie on Dec 03, 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JyeNlMNDQM

Helpful Reply
Becky at Flipping the Flip on Dec 03, 2021

Oh math and angles, brain bender for sure, ouch! Looks like your horizontal piece would be 153.5-ish degrees, and your sloped piece at the joint would be about 36.5. Definitely use some scrap pieces to test first!

Helpful Reply
- See 2 previous
- Faddu on Dec 03, 2021
  
  Thank you! It’s def an odd angle and I will be making plenty of practice cuts!
  
  Helpful
- Faddu on Dec 04, 2021
  
  So if this trim is laying flat against the bookcase, what type of cut would I do? Bevel? Do I lay it flat or prop it up? I’m not using crown molding.
  
  Helpful
- Becky at Flipping the Flip on Dec 04, 2021
  
  It is like a bevel cut, yes. Mark your angle on the trim with a pencil and then use a fine toothed hand saw, or miter saw, to cut it. You might find it easier to lay it flat to cut but your test pieces should help you figure everything out. I’m cheering you on!
  
  2 marked as helpful

Seth on Dec 03, 2021

Faddu,
You can find youtubes about how to figure angles without a protractor. I like to make a cardboard template that I can adjust in increments until it fits the angle of the sloped ceiling. I then adjust my mitre saw to match the angle and test fit a scrap.

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- See 2 previous
- Faddu on Dec 03, 2021
  
  Thanks Seth! Math was never my strong area so I will be making plenty of practice cuts lol
  
  Helpful
- Seth on Dec 04, 2021
  
  Lay it flat. You should add a coping saw to your tool collection if you don't already have one. You are doing enough serious projects to justify the investment. It's inexpensive (less than $10) and will elevate your finish work. When you need to make fine bevel cuts or to cope a piece to fit snugly against another when your power tools can't do it, it's the best tool to use. Some times your mitre saw will not make a nice cut if the blade is getting dull.
  
  1 marked as helpful
- Seth on Dec 04, 2021
  
  A bevel gauge is another inexpensive useful tool for copying angles and transferring them to your work piece.
  
  2 marked as helpful
Em on Dec 04, 2021

When in doubt you can always make a paper pattern. Overlap two pieces of paper to match the angle and tape together. Take down and use as a pattern.

Helpful Reply Flagged comment
Michelle Leslie on Dec 04, 2021

Hi Faddu, this video has such a simple but awesome trick you can use to figure out that angel. No maths just two pieces of wood - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyVL2ByubVw

1 marked as helpful Reply
Betsy on Dec 04, 2021

Hi Faddu: Don't over think this thing, which is so easy to do :) What I do when confronted with these types of problems is to take a piece of typing paper, put it on the ceiling edge with painters tape, putting the corner of the paper along the edge where it meets the wall. It should stick there. It will be straight, going down the wall. Then, I put another piece on the wall edge, corner meeting the other corner at the ceiling, and secure it with painters tape, overlapping the 2 pieces. This piece will overlap the ceiling piece quite a bit. Then, I tape the 2 together along the vertical line. You should have a perfect angle then. Remove and make a pattern on something a bit more sturdy or just measure the angle and you should be good to go.

Good luck

Helpful Reply
- See 1 previous
- Faddu on Dec 04, 2021
  
  Thanks for the great tip. But how do I cut the angle on the two pieces of trim once I make the sample using paper?
  
  Helpful
- Betsy on Dec 04, 2021
  
  You put the paper on one piece of the trim, like the wall piece, make a mark and cut it with a fine toothed saw. Then, do the same thing with the ceiling piece. You can make a pattern from your paper onto a piece of cardboard, which will be sturdier. Get an extra piece of trim to practice on. You can make your cuts in 1" increments untill you get exactly the angle you want. You should have a mitre box. They can be so helpful in many ways. Are you sure you aren't going to use 1/4 round? It fits into the corners better. Here's a site about using a miter box: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+miter+cut+1%2f2+round+molding+to+fit&qpvt=how+to+miter+cut+1%2f2+round+molding+to+fit&view=detail&mid=556AA6C66B73E921C66B556AA6C66B73E921C66B&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dhow%2Bto%2Bmiter%2Bcut%2B1%252f2%2Bround%2Bmolding%2Bto%2Bfit%26qpvt%3Dhow%2Bto%2Bmiter%2Bcut%2B1%252f2%2Bround%2Bmolding%2Bto%2Bfit%26FORM%3DVDRE
  
  and here's one about cutting 1/4 round:
  
  https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+miter+cut+1%2f2+round+molding+to+fit&qpvt=how+to+miter+cut+1%2f2+round+molding+to+fit&FORM=VDRE
  
  I'm certain that 1/4 round would be you're best bet here.
  
  Good luck
  
  Helpful
Annie on Dec 05, 2021

OK, First the scale to use is the one that is showing about 27 deg. Divide that in half = 13.5. Set your miter saw at 13.5. Cut two scrap pieces and try the fit. Adjust as required.

Helpful Reply

Deb K on Dec 05, 2021

Hi Faddu, hope this helps you out,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga6M91mPhB4

Helpful Reply
Kathy Gunter Law on Dec 07, 2021

I can't really explain it but you should use a compound mitre saw in order to cut both angles at the same time.

Helpful Reply

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