Milescraft 1405 Crown45 Crown Molding Jig for Miter Saws

Friday, April 13, 2012

Product Details

Product Dimensions: 14 x 6 x 2.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
ASIN: B000WU95WC
California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
Item model number: 1405

By : Milescraft
Price : $26.18
You Save : $3.81 (13%)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
The Milescraft 1405 Crown45 crown molding jig for miter saws will change the way crown molding projects are done. With its innovative “right-side up” cutting orientation, novice and pro alike can save time and money by cutting the stock correctly, the first time. Gone are the days of thinking upside down and backwards, with this jig the crown molding will be cut the way you see and install it on the wall. Use the included angle finders to determine the spring angle of your molding, adjust the Crown45 to the appropriate angle, and you are ready to cut! An indented cutting surface allows for special dentil styled moldings and a collapsible design allows for compact storage.
Intuitive Cut It The Way You See It orientation means fewer wrong cuts and less scrap moulding. No more thinking Upside down and backwards, cut crown moulding the way it will be seen and installed on the wall. Adjustable angle setting set to work with common molding spring angles (38, 45, and 52). Angle finders included easily determine the spring angle of your moulding. Wide indented cutting surface. Support all crown mouldings between 2 and 5.5. Accommodates special dentil style detailed mouldings. Collapsible design for compact storage. Cut finished moulding with no break out on the finished surface. Saw blade enters the material from the front due to its unique orientation.

Technical Details

Innovative "right side up" cutting orientation - no more thinking upside down and backwards, cut crown molding the way it will be placed on the wall
Adjustable angle setting with angle finders included - cuts common molding spring angles
Indented cutting face for use with special dentil style detailed molding
Collapsible design for compact storage
Wide cutting surface handles all crown moldings between 2 and 5-1/2 inches

Milescraft 1405 Crown45 Crown Molding Jig for Miter Saws

Customer Reviews

OK. This is suppose to be a product that makes it easier for someone who doesn't have experience installing crown molding, to do so. But there is just one major flaw. The instructions for this are terrible! They are in English/Spanish and are mostly diagrams and pictures of the parts. I had to study all 5 pages for 10 minutes to figure out just exactly how to set it up and use it. I bought this for a friend's small project. I will be returning it.
Let me see if I can explain some of its features and use. It comes folded for storage in it's cardboard box. The way it folds for storage is reverse of the way you fold it open to use it. I suppose the storage position is to keep it compact and keep the main hinge from getting damaged. When you fold it open you will find a red angled support piece under the top of the jig ( the top has the Crown45 logo on it and is yellow). You can place the two nibs of the red angle selector into one of three holes in the top. The holes are for setting the spring angle of your crown molding. 38, 45 and 52 are the degrees that you can set it too. The jig comes with 2 red right triangles that you can take off of it to use to determine the spring angle of your crown molding. One triangle is a 45-45-90 and the other is a 38-52-90.
After determining you spring angle you set the jig up for that angle. Then you place the jig on you miter saw bed facing the fence. You can now position the crown with right side up as you would install it. I found that by doing so, I effectively have made it easier to visualize the proper cutting of the crown, but I have made the actual cutting less precise by having the crown less firmly held on the miter saw. You will really have to hold the crown steady with one hand to get an accurate cut. In fact it is kind of dangerous. The plastic jig doesn't help with stability either as it is smooth and kind of slippery on my metal table and fence.
The components of the jig are all made of plastic except for the hinge pin and a nut and bolt. I don't expect it to last long especially if a tool gets set on top of it or it gets dropped or knocked of the miter table.
If you like nick-knacks or are just an especially big fan of jigs or a collector then you may want to purchase one. If you are a carpenter you will probably shy away from this after a couple of cuts. I don't really even recommend this for a novice either because it kind of makes it more dangerous to cut crown on a power miter saw due to the way you have to hold it. I would stick with the "upside down and backward" method of cutting crown. There are many resources on the web explaining this tried and true professionals method of cutting crown. May your projects be enjoyable, safe and fun.

I've installed crown numerous times using the old manual compound miter saw method. On my most recent project, I figured I would give this jig a try. So, I put my project on hold, ordered the jig and waited for its arrival. In an weak attempt to please international languages, the instructions are mostly pictures. Then, they end with a suggestion to refer to the pictures on the package the jig came in... So, if I keep the jig, I have to keep the box...I ended up watching their video on youtube for additional instruction and demonstration.
Finally, I set off to make my cuts. I used standard 45 degree crown material available at any home store. Nothing special here. The jig is plastic. The henge on the jig is plastic. All that plastic flexes when you hold the material against the saw fence. The crown material slides down the facing of the jig and changes the dynamics of the angles. You have to hold the material suspended without support at the proper angle to get the target cuts. While doing all this, you have to keep the jig in place against the fence. Odds of getting a multiple cuts to align are low. This tool is a waste of money. It apparently wasn't tested using common 45 degree crown as the common 45 degree crown slides down the jig to incorrect angles. Also, if you are cutting a long piece, the jig elevates the crown material and you have no support at the non cut end of your material. Its just suspended in mid air.
To top it off, its a China import. I do like the idea of an inverse jig for cutting crown and will likely just build my own, out of wood...
Don't waste your money.