Making Wood Moldng : Choosing Routers, bits and styles for crown, trim and casing.

Creating your own mouldings gives you several advantages:

• Selecting your own quality of hardwood lumber
• Ability to make your own custom molding profiles

Be aware that creating your own trim, casing or moldings will NOT save you money.

Using a router to make moldings
Be sure and select a router with a shank that can handle your job. Heavy duty routers often require bits with a 1/2 inch shank/

Router Bits: Types and Styles

Making crown molding and other styles of wood trim with different designs requires a vast amount of bits. High-speed steel and tungsten carbide make up most router bits. Carbide usuall has a longer life span while steel is good for altering existing profiles. Edge shaping routers come with a bearing guide that rolls along the wood to prevent burning and of course it also gives you a consistent profile and cut for the length of your piece of hardwood.

The two main categories of bits are Edge-Forming and Groove-Forming

Edge Forming bits - Typically wider bit blades

• Cove bits - for cove and beading styles
• Classic
• Ogee and Fillet - Roman Style
• Rabbet Bits
• Chamfer
• Roundover - Often used for shoe molding

Groove-Forming Bits - more narrow bit

• Core Box - Creates a rounded groove
• V-Groove bit
• Wedge Tongue - creates the tongue for tongue and groove style
• Wedge Groove - makes the groove for toungue and groove molsinf
• Ogee bit - groove with flairs

Making your own moldings can be a challeging task. Start with good equipment, planning and a quality hardwood lumber. Stay tuned for our making moldings tutorial.