How to Cut Quarter Round

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Quarter round (sometimes called shoe moulding) is a lovely finishing touch in most rooms. Fortunately, these thin pieces of wood are easy to cut using a basic miter box and hand saw. With a bit of care, you can effectively cut quarter round for joints and corners, and/or use the "round return" method for door jambs. If you are not totally comfortable using a hand saw, you may want to practice with a piece of scrap wood. Always use caution and wear protective gear when using sharp tools.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Trimming Your Quarter Round for Joints and Corners

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  1. Quarter round is available in 8 foot (240 cm) long pieces, or 16 foot (490 cm) long pieces. If you don't already know the width of your walls, you will need to measure them . Select pieces that closely match the width of your walls and purchase them. [1]
    • For most rooms, 8 foot (240 cm) long pieces are easier to work with.
    • Quarter round is available at most home improvement stores.
  2. Place your pieces of quarter round on the floor up against the wall. In this position, you can easily mark the locations for your cuts. Make small pencil marks to indicate the places where you will need to trim your quarter round. [2]
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  3. Each piece of quarter round will end at either a joint, a corner, or a door jamb. Quarter round will always be cut at an angle, usually 45 degrees. [3]
    • Cut 2 joint pieces at 45-degree angles in the same direction (meaning both angled to the left, or both to the right). These joint pieces should fit together to form a flat line against the wall.
    • Most corners will be 90-degree angles. For most corners, cut corner pieces at 45-degree angles in opposite directions (one to the left and one to the right, so that they fit together).
    • For corners that are very different from 90 degrees, measure the angle with a protractor , and divide this number by 2 to determine the angle of your cuts.
    • If your quarter round will end at an obstruction, cut at a 45-degree angle and attach a quarter round return.
    Andy Engel, Expert Carpenter

    When cutting quarter round for inside corners, I always miter the adjoining pieces at 45 degrees to form a clean junction. First, measure and mark the location of the corner on each piece. Then set the miter saw to 45 degrees and carefully cut along both pencil lines. Remember to make slow, smooth passes with even pressure on the saw.

  4. [4] Slide a piece of quarter round into your miter box and use the pins to secure it. Locate the slot that represents the correct angle for your cut. Steady the miter box with your non-dominant hand, and hold the saw in your dominant hand. Apply pressure with the saw and move it back and forth over the quarter round until your cut is finished. [5]
    • A miter box and saw set can be purchased at most home improvement stores, or online.
    • Remember to wear gloves and protective eye wear.
    • Always exercise caution when using a saw.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Cutting Quarter Round Returns

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  1. Place a length of quarter round up against your wall. Use a small pencil mark to indicate where the quarter round meets the door jamb (or other obstruction). [6]
  2. Place your quarter round into a miter box and secure it with the pins provided. Cut your wood at a 45-degree angle, angled away from the door jamb. The pencil marking you made should form the corner of your 45-degree angle. [7]
    • You can purchase a miter box and saw set from most home improvement stores, or online.
    • Wear gloves and protective eye wear.
    • Always be careful when using a saw.
  3. Take another piece of small piece quarter round and place it into your miter box. Use your saw to make a 45-degree cut, angled in the opposite direction (if your previous cut in the quarter round was angled to the left, this one will angle to the right). Change the angle of your saw and make a straight cut about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) away from your angle cut. You should end up with an end cap that is flat on one side and a 45-degree angle on the other side. [8]
  4. Line up the longer piece of quarter round up against the wall where it will go. Spin your end cap so that the flat cut is up against the wall, the angle cut is against the other piece of quarter round, and the finished side is visible. [9]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you cut a quarter round by hand?
    Ryaan Tuttle
    Home Improvement Specialist
    Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses.
    Ryaan Tuttle
    Home Improvement Specialist
    Expert Answer
    That will depend on what material you're working with. If it's wood, for example, you can use a small cordless trim saw.
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  • Question
    What tool do you use for cutting plastic?
    Ryaan Tuttle
    Home Improvement Specialist
    Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses.
    Ryaan Tuttle
    Home Improvement Specialist
    Expert Answer
    You can use special shears with different degrees. Just put it on there with a sharp utility blade and it will cut on an angle for you. It's that easy!
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Things You'll Need

      • Quarter round (also called shoe moulding)
      • Pencil
      • Miter box and hand saw
      • Gloves
      • Eye protection

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEGgFFEOD8M
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NiHDQeFOLQ&feature=youtu.be&t=196
      3. ↑ https://www.stcenters.org/cms/lib/PA01916724/Centricity/domain/59/learning%20guides/1100%20InteriorFinishModule.pdf
      4. ↑ Ryaan Tuttle. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 17 February 2022.
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NiHDQeFOLQ&feature=youtu.be&t=231
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NiHDQeFOLQ&feature=youtu.be&t=196
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNoc6Nw1VXM
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyboecepR7k
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyboecepR7k

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To cut a piece of quarter round, first measure the length of your walls so you can select the correct length of quarter round pieces. Line up your pieces against the wall and mark the spots you need to cut with a pencil. Make your cuts based on your markings, remembering to cut at a 45-degree angle to improve the finish. If you’re cutting a joint piece, angle the 45-degree cuts in the same direction, so that they both angle left. Alternatively, cut the angles in opposite directions if they’ll meet in a corner. Once you've determined how to cut your pieces, make sure to put on gloves and protective eye wear before using your miter saw. For tips on how to cut quarter round returns, read on!

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