*The
Coper will work perfectly on your first cut almost all the time! If you ever
have a problem, hopefully these answers will help. Remember that if you are
not getting absolutely perfect corners, something is wrong and we want to help!
If you can't find the answer you are looking for here, feel free to email or
call us anytime!
*The Coper
will work on styles of baseboard and chair rail up to 6" in height and 1" in
thickness. It will not work on crown molding (that sits at a 45) as that
requires a compound cut.
*This page is always updated as more
questions come in.
GOOD ANSWERS
What If I don't get a clean cut?
If you are not getting a crisp clean cut on your
baseboard it is most likely because the router bit is getting old or dull.
You can solve this problem by purchasing a new router bit. By
letting the router bit do the work you usually get the best cut. To
clean up a cut with splinters, you should use a sharp knife or very fine
sandpaper. Do not sand the edge of the baseboard or it will create a gap
in your corner.
If you
ever have a problem with the baseboard chipping near the top edge, make sure
that you are cutting slowly and smoothly letting the router do the work.
Try using a new sharp bit in your router. We highly recommend that when
cutting baseboard with a fine top edge that you work around the room in a
clockwise direction. In this way you will start your cut on the detailed
edge of the baseboard and you won't have any chipping at all.
In other words, this allows you to start your cut at the top edge rather than ending your
cut with it where chipping occurs.
Can The Coper work on any baseboard?
Yes, The Coper will work on any baseboard up to 6" in
height and 1" in width.
Can The Coper work when my corner is more or less than 90
degrees? Yes. The Coper back cuts
at about 2 degrees, so it will work in every corner. If you ever find a corner where a larger degree of back cut is
required, simply place a thin piece of wood or plastic (1/8") under the front of
the board before you clamp it down. This will angle the baseboard up to give
you a greater back cut. Some routers will allow you to tilt the base
of it to create more back cut.
What do I do when my baseboard
does not fit well in a corner? We guarantee that you will get a
tight fit with all profiles.
If the profile of your cut does not match the
profile on the matching board, look at question #11.
There are a very small percentage of baseboards that may have a
curve which the router bit cannot fit into; this creates a very poor fit. If you
are having problems with a corner fitting properly, you should run the router
bit over the template to see if there is a spot that it cannot fit into. By lightly sanding this area with the round file provided, you will
create space for the router bit and fix the problem.
If the profile
matches well, but doesn't seem to sit well when installed, it is usually
because the corner does not have enough plaster behind it near the bottom of
the wall. This often happens when the taper fails to get enough mud in
the bottom corners. To solve this problem you can use the foam tape
included in The Coper Package. Simply place the required amount of foam
on the base of the wall (about 1 inch from the corner) to bring the
bottom of the baseboard out to match the receiving piece. When done
correctly you will have a tight fit with no visible gap or separation from the
wall.
How do I work around a room?
We recommend that you always work around the room in a
counter-clockwise motion. To work in this direction you make the mold with the
top of the baseboard placed
against the stop of the molding tray. However, if you prefer to work in
a clockwise direction or you are using detailed baseboard (you want to start
your cut at the top edge), you simply need to make a mold with the bottom of
the baseboard placed against the stop of the molding tray. Now you need
a relief block to match the top edge.
Can I go clockwise around the room?
If you prefer to work in a clockwise direction,
you simply need to make a mold with the bottom of the baseboard placed against
the stop of the molding tray. Now you need a relief block to match the
top edge.
How long does a mold
template last? A mold will usually last for
several jobs (100's of cuts). To lengthen the life of a mold, let it
totally cure prior to it's first use. Also, ensure that you always let
the router do the work of the cut. By firmly pressing against the mold
template you will decrease it's life. We recommend that you make a few
molds for each job, so that if something strange happens, you always have a
back-up template. Making the molds the night before your job begins will
ensure that it has cured completely.
If you
ever need a template of a certain type of baseboard that you want to use over
and over again (300+), job after job,
here's the answer.
The first thing you do is make a template in the normal fashion and install it
into The
Coper,
then you take a 6" strip of 1/4" plexi-glass (you can get
plexi-glass from any hardware or glass store) and clamp it into The
Coper.
Your first cut will create a new template in the
plexi-glass. It's your first
cut, it's a fresh cut and it will be an exact replica of your template. Take
out the
plexi-glass,
cut it down to 2" drill a few holes in it and you have a plexi-glass template that will last
forever.
Where can I get more
Por-A-Kast? You can order these products
right here on our website. You can also purchase these products from the location where you purchased The
Coper. You can use Vaseline for additional wax.
Where can I get additional router bits?
You can order the correct bit right here on our website. You can also purchase these products from the location where you purchased The
Coper. You must use a 1/4" flush trim bit if you want to pick up the fine
details of a baseboard.
Is The Coper safe to use?
Yes. The Coper is simply a jig which allows you to
use your router in a fixed location on a secured piece of wood. To use
The Coper safely you should fully understand how your router works and
operates. You should always wear proper safety gear including safety
glasses. Whenever you use The Coper you should ensure that it is screwed
to the table and that the baseboard is firmly clamped in place.
Never try to use The Coper on a piece of baseboard that is not long enough to
fit under both clamps.
What do I do if my cut doesn't exactly match the baseboard?
If the coped edge does not line up, it could be because the
template has shifted up or down.
When the baseboard is
in The Coper, the top and bottom of the baseboard should line up with the mold.
If you need to shift the template more than
the holes allow, you can create more space by drilling out the holes on the
template.
Another
reason a cut may not line up is because the baseboard you are using is from a
different lot than the other pieces. If it is significantly different, you may
need to make a separate mold for it. When you purchase baseboard it is a good
idea to make a mold and bring it along to the lumberyard. With the mold you can
make sure that all of the pieces you buy are from the same lot. This will also
make matching your trim around your doors and windows a much easier task.
If your cut
still does not match the baseboard it is most
likely because your mold template is getting old or because the template has
been chipped. If you removed the baseboard from the mold too early, it
could cause the mold to shrink. The best solution is to make a new template. You can
try to shift the mold template up or down a little in The Coper to correct
minor differences.
How do I use The Coper if I need a 45 degree (outside
corner) on the other end of my piece? To
complete this you first use The Coper to create the inside corner. You
then place the baseboard into the corner and mark the other side. You
now cut the 45 degree corner on the mark and you have a perfect piece!
Will The Coper work on all types of wood?
Yes, The Coper will work on all types and styles of
wood.
14. Where can I get
more foam backing? The foam backing in your kit is simply
window and door seal. You can get huge rolls of it at your local hardware
store.
15. How long will the
router bit last? The router bit
should stand up very well as it has a carbide tipped bit. You should
always allow the router to do the work while making each cut. You should
also allow the bit to cool down between cuts. Overheating
can dull the bit and cause bearing failure. You can extend the life of the
bit on hard woods (example: maple) by first making a 45 degree cut on the board
edge you need coped. In this way the bit only needs to go through half the
amount of hard wood. The bottom line is that the bit will wear at the same rate
as any other quality bit. Our new bits come with an extra bearing.
16. How do I get the coped pieces to the
right length? There are two ways you can do this. The simplest
way is to cope the end you need, measure it and cut it. That is a two step
process. An easier way is to measure from wall to wall, let's say it's
10ft exactly. Mark 10 feet on your baseboard and line it up with the right
edge of your template.
Now you run your router through the baseboard and it will be
the right length in one cut! This method works well on the softer woods,
but it is hard on your router bit when you start on the likes of Maple or hard
Oak. See answer #22.
*This page is always updated as more
questions come in.
