Last Updated on January 10, 2023
While a mitre saw cuts a skirting board easily, there are also different methods that you can use to cut a skirting board. With the help of other equipment, you can easily cut a skirting board to fit perfectly on the corners of different rooms. Examples of such tools include handsaws, mitre boxes, and jigsaws.
In this post, we will show you how to cut skirting board without a mitre saw.
Different Types of Cuts That You Need to Make While Cutting a Skirting Board
Skirting boards or baseboards are fitted along the floor of different walls. Therefore, the cuts that you make on a skirting board can differ, depending on the position of the skirting board. For instance, mitre joints make it easier for you to fit baseboards on corners.
These are some of the different cuts that you can make on a skirting board:
Crosscut/Straight Cut
If a skirting board is quite long, you need to make a crosscut to get the correct measurements. A straight crosscut makes it easier for you to cut a skirting board until it fits perfectly on a wall. You can use a hand saw to make a straight cut on a skirting board.
Bevel Cut
A bevel cut is an angled cut through the thickness of a skirting board that makes it easier for you to join two skirting boards.
For instance, if you make a 45Ā°bevel cut on one skirting board and another 45Ā° angled cut on the other skirting board, you can easily join the two boards at a corner to make a 90Ā° angle.
If you are not using a mitre saw to cut bevels, you can use a mitre box to cut a bevel on different skirting boards.
Tools That You Might Need For Cutting Skirting Board
If you are planning to cut a skirting board without a mitre saw, these are some of the tools that you might require to cut baseboard corners:
- Hand saw
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Mitre box
- Sandpaper Tape measure for measurement
- Precision saw
Some are power tools, while others are manual tools. Each tool makes it easier for you to get a perfect trim.
Method 1: Cutting a Skirting Board With A Hand Saw
Place Your Mitre Box on a Workbench
Start by placing your mitre box on a workbench. A workbench can hold your mitre box steadily, making it easier for you to trim a skirting board.
Place the Skirting Board Inside the Mitre Box
Before you place the skirting board on the mitre box, you have to mark the point that you want to trim. This prevents you from overcutting the skirting board. After that, place the skirting board in the mitre box. The flat side of the skirting board should be resting on the mitre box.
Hold the skirting board firmly, keep your fingers away from the slots that the saw will pass through, and slide the saw in the 45Ā° slots. The saw should slide into the mitre box diagonally. It should slide from the bottom left slot of the mitre box to the top-right slot of the mitre box. Trim the edge of the skirting board with a saw to get a 45Ā° mitre.
Place Another Skirting Board Inside the Mitre Box
To create 90Ā° mitre joints, you have to join two skirting boards with 45Ā° mitre cuts. Due to this, you have to place another skirting board inside the mitre box. The flat side of the mitre box should be resting on the mitre box. Slide the saw into the mitre box from the bottom right slot to the top left slot of the mitre box. after that, trim the edge of the skirting board with the saw.
Once you finish cutting the skirting board, join the mitres to come up with a 90Ā° angle.
Method 2: Cutting Baseboard Corners With a Circular Saw
Familiarize Yourself With the Circular Saw
The first thing you need to do while cutting a skirting board with a circular board is to familiarize yourself with the different parts of the circular saw. You should also read the user manual. It makes it easier for you to understand how a circular saw works.
Position Two Sawhorses Close to Each Other
A sawhorse is a special type of rack that holds a piece of wood sturdily as you are cutting it. You should position two sawhorses close to one another, then place your skirting board on the sawhorses. The face of the skirting board should be resting on the sawhorses.
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Measure the Skirting Board and Mark the Cut Line
Once you finish setting up the skirting board on the sawhorses, you have to mark the point you are planning to trim. You can use a pencil and a carpenter’s square to mark the point you want to cut. Use a tape measure to determine where the cut will be positioned on the skirting board. After that, place a carpenter’s square on your skirting board and draw the cut line with a pencil.
Adjust the Circular Saw
Since a circular saw comes with different cutting options, you have to adjust it before cutting your skirting board. Start by adjusting the depth of the saw blade. In addition, skirting boards have a thickness between 15mm and 25mm, so you have to reduce the depth of the blade.
Loosen the knob that lets you slide the baseplate up and down. After that, set the depth of the circular saw based on the thickness of the board. Tighten the knob that lets you slide the baseplate up and down.
After that, adjust the bevel angle. Use the bevel adjustment to change the angle of the blade. Move the bevel adjustment to the 45 degrees angle. Then, you can do the same steps as you adjust the depth of the saw blade.
Cut Baseboard Corners
Use one hand to hold the baseboard firmly. You should place your hand at least 20 cm from the cut line. It reduces the risk of any injuries that might be caused by the circular saw. After that, stand in a sturdy posture, then place the baseplate of the circular saw on your baseboard. The saw should be in line with the mark that you had made earlier. Not to mention, the saw should be positioned on the edge of the baseboard. The saw should be perpendicular to the cutting line that you had drawn earlier.
Press the trigger button of the circular saw and slide it slowly along the pencil line that you had drawn earlier. Slide the circular from one end of the pencil line to the other end of the cutting line. Release the trigger button once you finish cutting the baseboard.
While you can cut a 45-degree bezel with a circular saw, the edges of the bezel might be a little bit rough. If the edges of the bezel cut are a little bit rough, you can use a rasp to smoothen out the edges.
Method 3: Using a JigSaw to Trim Baseboard Corners
Place the Baseboard Trim On a Sturdy Workbench
The first thing to do is placing the skirting board on a sturdy workbench. This makes it easier for you to trim the skirting board with a jigsaw. The end of the skirting board should be on the edge of the workbench.
Mark the Skirting Board
Once you place the skirting board on a workbench, you have to mark the cutting point. Use a pencil to trace out the decorative profile of the skirting board on the slanting bevel. The mark should be a few millimetres from the edge of the bevel.
Start the Jigsaw to Cut the Baseboard Corners
The next thing you need to do is to cut the decorative profile of the skirting board. In this process, you have to make an under-cut on the bevel. Hold the baseboard and secure it sturdily on the workbench. Start the jigsaw, then tilt it to a certain degree.
The jigsaw should cut an inward angle on the skirting board, so you have to tilt it in an inward direction while cutting. Cut the baseboard from one edge to the other edge while following the decorative profile of the baseboard.
Smoothen the Edges of the Cut
Smoothen the edges of the cut with a rasp or sandpaper. Fit the baseboard on a corner to check whether it fits perfectly or not. Coped joints will give you a neat finish at the base of your floor.
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Cut Baseboard Corners With the Available Tools
Different tools can help you cut a baseboard until it fits perfectly on the corner of different walls. If your baseboard has perfect corner cuts, it won’t form a gap when placed in a corner. While the whole process of how to cut skirting board without a mitre saw can be hectic, different equipment can help you achieve perfect results. Once you get the perfect corners, drill nail holes on your baseboard and install the baseboards along the base of your walls.
Have you tried cutting a baseboard without a mitre saw? How was it? Tell us below.
Ian loves everything that revolves around the home improvement niche. He loves trying out new home appliances. He has also handled a lot of equipment and has a lot of insight. Plus, heās worked on various home improvement projects that became a success. If Ian isnāt busy working on his latest project, you can find him reading up about another one!