Coping (joinery)

Coping or scribing is the woodworking technique of shaping the end of a moulding or frame component to neatly fit the contours of an abutting member.

The other method of fitting these mouldings that is commonly used is the mitre joint, but this technique relies upon knowing the precise angle between the walls for neat results.

Also it is possible to arrange the scribed joints pointing away from the most common viewpoint (usually the doorway of a room) and so present the best appearance.

The rails in the frame and panel construction are commonly cope cut to fit the profile of the stiles.

There are also mechanical means of producing coped joints, including matching rail and stile cutters for the router as used in frame and panel construction.

A coped joint
A scribed joint (right end of sketch) is derived from an internal mitre cut (left end) by cutting along the inside face of the mitre cut at a right angle to the board, typically with a coping saw .
Scribing a pencil line to fit two pieces of wood together.