If you want to add a wider casing around a door, you’ll need to remove a portion of your baseboard trim to accommodate it.
Your first thought might be that you need to pry off the whole baseboard and cut it to size with a circular saw in your shop.
However, you don’t have to go through the extra effort of removing the whole thing. Use an oscillating multi-tool to get a precise cut while it’s still on the wall.
An oscillating tool is a compact, portable power tool that accepts a wide range of interchangeable blades. It can sand, cut, scrape, grind and polish depending on the blade.
It’s called an oscillating tool because the blade oscillates back and forth.
You can use it for cutting drywall openings and plumbing pipes, trimming baseboard molding and more.
While this tool cuts great and is very versatile, it’s a little hard to control. The vibrations make it easy for you to slip and knick a chunk of material that you don’t want to cut.
To make a perfectly straight cut, you’ll need a little assistance from a speed square.
Mark where you want to cut your baseboard trim with a wood pencil. Then, place the speed square just outside of the line where you want to cut.
Next, guide the blade right along the square. The speed square blocks the blade on the oscillating tool from moving past the cut line.
After you’ve made your cut, use a crowbar to pry out the cut portion of the baseboard trim.
Now, you have a nice clean cut on your baseboard trim that’s ready for the new door casing.
