Coping is the traditional method of baseboard joinery and is considered a mark of craftsmanship. For this reason, it is often preferred for work with historic or period moldings.

Is coping baseboards necessary?

It is best to practice on scrap pieces of baseboard before coping the long piece of molding you intend to install. If done perfectly, coped joints are preferable to mitered joints, since they are less likely to reveal gaps due to imperfect wall angles or seasonal expansion and contraction of wood.

Can you cope baseboard with a jigsaw?

​The way to cut baseboard with a jigsaw can be as simple as marking the cutting line and making the cut. ... The coped joint is another joint you can make with a jigsaw and a coping saw – it takes a bit of time and skill, but the tight fit is well worth it.