Trimwork can be challenging to install. Here are some tips to help you handle the most troublesome situations that finish carpentry poses.

Tighten Up Open Miters

The quickest and easiest way to cut a slight back bevel is to shim the molding so it’s resting at an angle to the saw blade. A pencil makes a handy shim and is just about the right thickness.

Cut Steep Angles on Your Miter Saw

It’s not common, but occasionally you’ll run into a situation that requires miters greater than the 45- or 50-degree angle available on miter saws. An easy way to handle this is to cut a block of wood at a 45-degree angle and cut a flat spot for the clamp. Clamp the molding to the block and line up the miter saw with the mark to make the cut.

Scribe Trim to Fit Uneven Walls

Angle a Nail to Close Baseboard Gaps

Make Blocks for Tough Transitions

Big Humps Require Surgery

A stud that’s not lined up with the plate causes a big hump in the wall, making it difficult to get the baseboard tight.

Clean Out Corners Before You Start

Keep Baseboard from Tipping

Cut strips of wood to the thickness of the drywall and cut off small pieces to use as spacers at inside corners or wherever they’re needed.

Join Moldings with Biscuits

MDF (medium-density fiberboard) is inexpensive, durable, and a good choice for many woodworking and carpentry projects. Learn how to use it correctly, and how to avoid common mistakes.

• Make Your Own Trim
• Combine MDF With Wood Moldings
• Prepare for a Dust Storm
• Avoid Full Sheets
  Try MDF shelving, usually in 1 x 8-ft. sections. I like to slice these long, easy-to-handle shelves into trim stock.
• Sand, Prime, Sand (Kilz, 100 grit)
• Don’t Let It Get Wet
• Reinforce MDF Shelves
• Don’t Use a Hammer (drill holes first or use a trim nailer)

Don't let the elegant look fool you. This trim is actually easier than the standard 'picture frame' trim used in most homes since the 1950s.

For this project, you'll need 1/2-in.- and 3/4-in.-thick MDF, and some paintable 1x3 lumber for the stools. We recommend wood for the stool because unlike MDF, it'll withstand a little moisture from window condensation. We used pine, but poplar, maple and birch would also work well.

You can figure out how much material you need using your cutting list, but as a rough estimate you can cut parts for about four or five windows from one 4 x 8-ft. sheet of MDF. MDF is heavy, and full sheets are hard to handle. Ask to have the sheets cut in half lengthwise at the home center.

Basic router bits: roundover, ogee, cove