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So, I volunteered for habitat for humanity over the weekend and got inspired.

Now I need practical advise.

I have some wainscoting in my kitchen and office. It's nice and I want to leave it there. Howver, the numb nuts that sole me the house put molding on top of the wainscoting and never bothered to cut with a miter saw.

I have been wanting to get rid of that and do it right. I got a little taste of molding over the weekend at the habitat house. But, admittedly, Im not good at measuring and I'm afraid that I will split the wood on the wainscoting when I try to get the existing molding off of there. Also, over the weekend we used a big electric miter saw. I obviously will need something else, not so elaborate.

Any professional or amateur carpenters out there - help!! I'd love to do this by myself since it was the one thing exdouche promised to take care of and never did. He lived in this house for all of 10 months and apparently had lots of other interests that included drinking, gambling and slunting rather than carpentry.

Old-time carpenters used a wooden box with slots cut in it at 45 and 90 degrees, called, oddly enough, a miter box. I have owned several.

I suppose, if you practice enough, and have the right saw and clamps, you could get by with one of those.

But the first time I used an electric miter saw I never went back. It's incredibly better.

Could you rent one at a tool rental place?

Could you rent one at a tool rental place?

Home Depot and the other big box hardware stores do rentals.

Yup Rent one. Plan ahead for a weekend, and measure out your wood, and go for it. As far as removing the molding on the existing Wainscotting you most likely will need to get a small chisel set to cut/break the seam if it is painted. If it is stained, and jut tackedin place you can probably just pop it off with a regular old hammer.

In addition to renting a miter saw, you probably want to rent a braid gun too to put the new molding up with. You will need an air compressor to run that though if you don't own one, otherwise it's tedious nailing in the headless nails, and using a punch to sink the nail below the surface of the wood, then you need to use wood putty over the top of the nail hole to fill in, and then sand and stain, or paint.

I did all the finish wood work in our home. I love doing it. It is relaxing, and a bit like putting a really pretty puzzle together. I too have an electric, Miter saw with stand, and it makes doing it so very easy.

Go for it!!!

Removal tools:

- utility knife

- thin putty knife

- thicker putty knife/scraper

- small pry bar (8" or a couple of sizes)

- handle for hacksaw blade (see photo)

- nail puller

Cut caulking and/or paint carefully with razor knife. Wiggle gradually thicker tools behind molding until lifted clear of surrounding trim so that you can see the nails.

Use hacksaw blade to cut off nails behind the molding. Put remains of nails with nail pullers.

Consider buying a miter saw then sell it afterward over rentals. Rentals get abused and, predictably, it may take you longer than you think.

TR

[This message edited by TrulyReconciled at 4:27 PM, October 29th (Tuesday)]

I agree with everyone; TR in particular laid it out like I would. I'd see if you can pick up a wood trim book at the library (or purchase one) and review it before beginning your project.

You can do this! Only tip I have to add is to be sure to drill pilot holes in the molding if you do not use a nail gun; that'll help keep the trim from splitting.

A "chop saw" is a way cool tool that you can get a lot of use from. PVC, wood, aluminum...they're great! A good compound miter saw is under $250. If you plan to be keeping up a house, it might be a worthwhile investment. You can get a cheap model for about $100. Remember, joint compound is your friend! (So is carefully placed caulk. )

Keep in mind that if you're going to do crown molding, that's a bit more than 'basic' trim work, and requires coping skills and knowledge about cutting 'upside down and backwards' etc.