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Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. Includes chippers, buffers, and finishers.

What you’d do

  • Verify quality of finished workpieces by inspecting them, comparing them to templates, measuring their dimensions, or testing them in working machinery.
  • Grind, sand, clean, or polish objects or parts to correct defects or to prepare surfaces for further finishing, using hand tools and power tools.
  • Measure and mark equipment, objects, or parts to ensure grinding and polishing standards are met.
  • Trim, scrape, or deburr objects or parts, using chisels, scrapers, and other hand tools and equipment.
  • Mark defects, such as knotholes, cracks, and splits, for repair.
  • Study blueprints or layouts to determine how to lay out workpieces or saw out templates.
  • Move controls to adjust, start, or stop equipment during grinding and polishing processes.
  • Load and adjust workpieces onto equipment or work tables, using hand tools.

Skills that matter

  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Operation and Control
  • Repairing
  • Active Listening

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Chipper
  • Finisher
  • Grinder
  • Polisher
  • Buffer
  • Casting Finisher
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