Square Edged Casing Connections

tcleve4911

Our current finish project uses 1x4 squared edge pine with 3/4" backband around the perimeter.

In the past, I used to biscuit join them, but they would never "lock" in. The head casing would roll back and create a gap in the jamb casing or they never stayed flush.

Lately I've been pocket screwing the joint on my bench, flipping it over, sanding smooth and then putting the whole thing up as an assembly. That's fine until you start running 12' windows and multiple sash assemblies.

Any tips?

__________________
Back in Maine
Dubbin' Around
Doin' good stuff ......

trimmerdude

I've always just scewed miters together from the top or bottom with 1 5/8 self tapping screws. With glue and screws, you can't go wrong.

cleveman

I glued & doweled a lot of window casing, then finished it, then nailed it up.

Next time, again with rosettes in the corners, I prefinished everything, even the sides of the rosettes where they would be glued. I didn't finish the ends of the head/sill and jambs. Anyway, then I doweled and glued everything up and nailed it on the window. I wanted to do it this way because it was easier to finish with the pieces separate. I had my doubts about glueing the prefinished rosettes, but I had no problems. Probably the glue in the dowels holes and the dowels would go a long way towards holding everything together anyway. And once it was mounted, it wasn't going anywhere. These are 9 years old now. 3 coats of poly.

Splinter

The traditional early 1900's look has butt joints instead of miters. The head casing extends to the outer edges of the side casings. There's no easy way to screw it together after it's up on the wall.

To the OP- pocket screw joints are great, arent they? The only suggestions I have for the really big windows is build it in two pieces with a half lap joint in the middle, or get an extra set of hands for the day.

__________________
- Alex

Long Island Remodeling Contractor

WarnerConstInc.

Domino, it is made for that. You could pre-assemble all casings with gule and Domino's and pre-finish. Hang as one unit. I have done that with my cabinet maker on several large houses where he made all the trim.

It was super easy once on site.

Splinter

I forgot about that... Good suggestion. You are the Festool guy arent you?

__________________
- Alex

Long Island Remodeling Contractor

john5mt

Is there a festool solution for everything?

__________________
1st Gen tradesman
My summer job in college became my profession

Tom Struble

probably not suppose to do this but ive used biscuts and pocket screws together in the same joint makes it alittle easier for me to get the joints lined up

WarnerConstInc.

No but, this is a perfect use for it. Perfect alignment and faces will always be flush.

Biscut jointer would work too.