How to Form Wood Trim Around a Radius

Although you may order trim in a curved form from a mill-work company, it is not the only way to achieve moldings on a radius of a room. Methods for forming trim around a radius range from laminating a series of thin pieces together with wood glue and clamps, to the more complex process of steam bending. The simpler strategy to accomplish this task involves cutting a series of slots in the back side of the trim work. These slots or "kerfs" relieve the pressure from molding, allowing it to conform to a curved wall.

• 1

  Set the miter saw to 90 degrees, and lay the trim on the table of the mitre saw face-side down while holding it tightly to the fence.

• 2

  Mark the entire trim piece on the back side in 2-inch increments along its length.

• 3

  Cut three quarters of the way through the trim with the mitre saw on the first 2-inch mark. Don't expose the saw cut on the top or bottom of the molding.

• 4

  Continue to advance the molding on the miter saw table in 2-inch increments along the entire length of the molding, making a cut every 2 inches in the same manner as the first cut.

• 5

  Apply the construction adhesive to the back of the molding, and slowly bend it around the radius.

• 6

  Hammer a finish nail at one end of the molding, and hammer additional nails around the molding as needed.