Measuring Wall Corners Accurately for Crown Molding Cuts

The True Angle tool works as a protractor for capturing the precise angle found on the inside or outside of a corner where two walls join. Once you have that number, you can adjust your miter saw to the corresponding degree and angle so the crown molding cut fits the wall properly. In appearance, the protractor consists of two ruler-like arms joined at a single end by a wing nut, and a degree scale is printed around that joined end for recording the measurement.

Step 1

Position the True Angle protractor against the walls of the corner you intend to measure, placing each arm of the tool flat against one of the two wall surfaces. The tool will then mirror the angle of the corner itself.

Step 2

Turn the wing nut at the joined end to secure the protractor's position, then lift the tool away from the wall.

Step 3

Find the guideline marked on the protractor and note the degree reading for the wall angle. Take that degree and look it up in the True Angle tool chart included in the instructional book Crown Molding & Trim: Install It Like A Pro! to determine the precise settings for a miter saw or compound miter saw.

Step 4

Adjust your miter saw to match what the True Angle chart specifies, then make the cut for that corner. For correct positioning of the crown molding in the saw, consult the book.