For tools you will need to cut external mitres, and for preparation details, see the introduction and first four steps of the next page, How to cut internal mitres using a cove mitre
How to cut an external mitre
For ease of description and to avoid confusion, the following guide is given with a right-handed user in mind. A left-handed user would have to stand the other side of the coving.
Step 1 – Place coving on secure surface
Place the coving on a secure surface for sawing. The coving should be laid on its flat back side with the concave (curved side) facing up, and the wall edge of the coving closest to you.
Step 2 – Position the cove mitre
If you are cutting a left-hand external mitre, you should position the cove mitre so that its left-hand face is at the far left end of the coving to minimise the waste.
If you are cutting a right-hand external mitre, you should position the cove mitre so that its right-hand face is at the far right end of the coving, again to minimise the waste.
The cove mitre should rest across the coving with either the plastic lip or the notches holding it in place on the wall edge of the coving.
Step 3 – Cut mitre
Holding the saw in your dominant hand, place the saw on the right-hand side of the cove mitre face for cutting a left hand external mitre, or left-hand side of the face for cutting a right hand mitre, with the saw’s blade resting against the edge of the cove mitre. If you are cutting an external right-hand mitre, you may find it easier to stand the other side of the coving to make the cut.
If you are using a creased triangle-type cove mitre, tilt the saw so that the blade rests flat against the angled surface of the cove mitre. Hold the cove mitre in place on the coving with your non-dominant hand and, with smooth, steady strokes of the saw, cut the coving.