Most Drapery Rods Are Easy To Cut Down To Size Before You Hang Them

How to guide for trimming drapery hardware to size. Wooden drapery rods and metal curtain rods can be easily cut to size before you install them.

When helping home owners and interior decorators choose the best drapery hardware for their home or project, the question of cutting drapery rods to size seems to come up often. You'll quickly notice that most curtain rods come from the manufacturer in several predetermined lengths like four foot, six foot and eight foot. This works great if your window is really close to one of these sizes, but if you need a slightly smaller length of drapery pole for your project, then you'll need to trim it before you install it.

The task of cutting drapery hardware to size can seem a bit scary to some home owners. As long as you have access to the right tools, the project is really very easy. Both decorative wooden drapery rods and metal curtain rods can be quickly trimmed to perfectly fit your window. And, the process is similar for both the wood and metal styles. Before you begin, make sure you have access to the appropriate saw as well as safety glasses or goggles.

Most hollow core metal drapery rods can be cut using a hacksaw with a fine cutting blade. Or, as long as you have a fine metal blade, you can use a powered miter saw. Make sure to buy metal curtain rods that are hollow core if you plan to cut them to size yourself. Solid metal drapery hardware is best cut to size by the manufacturer. To trim your hollow core product to size, simply mark the point where you need to make your cut and use your saw. Before you cut, make certain to remove any finial adapters or plugs from the end of the pole so you can slide them back on when you're finished.

For trimming wood drapery rods to size, you'll get the best results with a powered miter saw. If you don't have a miter saw, you can always use a hand saw. Make sure your hold the drapery pole firmly in place while you cut if you're using a hand saw. To begin, make a mark on the drapery rod at the point where you're going to make your cut. Then, wrap two inch masking tape around your rod over the mark you just made. You'll want your saw to cut through the masking tape and then through your pole. Wrapping the product with tape first will help reduce splintering and keep the finish from chipping as you make your cut.

Once you have trimmed your wooden drapery rod to size, you'll need to create a new pilot hole for your finial. Use a ruler to find the exact center point of the end you just cut and draw a straight line. Use your ruler again to find the center point of your line and make a mark. Your mark should be at the center point. You can use a 1/8 inch drill bit to make the pilot hole, or you can simply tap in a nail. The pilot hole doesn't need to be very deep, usually a half inch or so is all you'll need to start the finial into the end of the drapery rod.

Many drapery hardware products can be cut to size before they are shipped from the manufacturer. You can check with Designer Drapery Hardware before buying your curtain rod to find out if it can be cut to size before shipping.