Carving Knives Make Clean Copes
For cleaning up molding joints, a specialty woodcarving tool works better than a typical utility knife.
Whether you use a coping saw or a jigsaw, you sometimes need to fine-tune a cope before installation. I have found that a sloyd knife, such as the Morakniv 120 or 106, does the job quickly and quietly. Sloyd knives, which are commonly used in wood carving, have a smooth, continuous bevel that helps produce a finer, more controlled cut than you can get from a utility knife. When trying to clean up curved sections, use the tip of the sloyd knife, which cuts curves quite readily. For straight sections, the middle of the knife works well. Sloyd knives need to be sharp, so sharpen often.
—Jon Proniewski, Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #285
More about coping:
The Secret to Coping Crown Molding – Cut the crown at the same angle as the projection and the cope will fit every time
Coping Crown Molding on Inside Corners
