To Cope... Or Not To Cope... That is my question

[Pokey]

I enjoy doing sidework for friends and projects around my own house. I've done a lot of base, casing, and crown mold. I've talked to a lot of people who say its better to cope all joints and others who say its better to miter all joints. In certain applications is one better than the other. I know this is a matter of opinion, just looking for ideas to become better at producing my work

[Tom R]

In my personal opinion, mitering is faster, but coping is better.

Generally, coping is considered much more professional.

The theory being, - - not only is the 'shrinkage' factor cut in half with coping (only the coped end is visible, the other end is hidden), - - but what little shrinkage there is can only be seen from one angle, rather than two.

Proud carpenters cope!

[Rich]

I agree Tom. Coping is more time consuming but is much more professional and typically lasts longer. Lasts longer mostly because, as Tom mentioned, you don't see the joint expanding and contracting as much.

[Pokey]

Thanks for your responses! I generally cope everything, however i've run into a few people who miter everything and think i'm crazy to cope.

[Tom R]

Lazy claiming Crazy! :D

[Rich]

LOL - well said Tom.

[Dragon]

I cope all base joints and miter all crown joints. As long as I'm not running into casing on base I'll add a little extra to allow for shrinkage.

There have been situations where I'll miter a base joint but I'll back nail it and completely saturate the joint with glue. No, not a line. Saturate. It stays together that way. A moist rag takes care of any excess.

[rgramjet]

I recently hired a guy that is one of the best trim carpenters Ive ever seen. He recently did a 2 piece crown in the living room of an old house that was built before levels were invented! Seriously, the ceiling and the walls were so skewed that my regular carpenter had to walk away from the task. I kept having him take down the section over the fireplace because the walls were so bad. "Trim God" came in and within an hour made the fireplace crown look perfect.

The crown came out perfectly and he mitered and glued the joints. Ive been watching them for a year and they have not moved at all. Temp has varied from 50 degrees when all the windows were out all the way to 85 degrees when my client was having problems with the programmable thermostat. The joints took no caulk.

I am an old school coper but this guy has me convinced that one can make miters work with the same amount of "integrity" of a coped joint.

[Crash13]

This is probably a stupid question, but i want to re-assure myself. When you talk about coping a joint you mean inside corners right? Outside corners are always mitered?

[Tom R]

This is probably a stupid question, but i want to re-assure myself. When you talk about coping a joint you mean inside corners right? Outside corners are always mitered?

Correct.

[giddonah]

I just wanted to say that that's not a stupid question.






yes, because I needed to think about it the first time myself. :wink: :lol:

[Jgaines327]

I have always coped everything when it comes to trim everything from shoe to crown of course it was instilled in me by my father. You always get a better job by coping in my opinion , although, it does some what depend on what type of material you are working with if it's stain grade ...definately cope it!!