Ornamental metal worker

Ornamental metal workers use finishing equipment and machinery to shape and finish fabricated ornamental metal workpieces, often used for the installation process in construction, such as railings, staircases, open steel flooring, fences and gates, and others.

The following job titles also refer to ornamental metal worker:

welder fabricator installer
structural and ornamental metalwork steel fabricator
Structural and ornamental metalwork copper fabricator
ornamental metalwork metal fabricator
precision structural steel fitter
structural and ornamental metalwork metal fabricator
welder fabricator
precision structural metal fitter

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as an ornamental metal worker.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Ornamental metal worker is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to ornamental metal worker.

laser marking machine operator
swaging machine operator
blacksmith
chain making machine operator
solderer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of ornamental metal worker. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of ornamental metal worker with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

pneumatic engineering technician
metrology technician
pulp control operator
container equipment assembly supervisor
industrial engineering technician

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of ornamental metal worker.

• Design drawings: Understand design drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.
• Torch temperature for metal processes: Ideal temperature of tools and machinery equiped with torches to perform various metal processing on workpieces.
• Types of metal: Qualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.

These skills are necessary for the role of ornamental metal worker.

• Mark designs on metal pieces: Mark or engrave designs on metal pieces or pieces of jewellery, closely following design specifications.
• Remove inadequate workpieces: Evaluate which deficient processed workpieces do not meet the set-up standard and should be removed and sort the waste according to regulations.
• Remove processed workpiece: Remove individual workpieces after processing, from the manufacturing machine or the machine tool. In case of a conveyor belt this involves quick, continuous movement.
• Use metalworking tools: Use the appropriate metalworking tools to manipulate metal objects or surfaces. Use adequate instruments to grind, smoothen or sharpen metals.
• Shape ornamental design: Form and shape decorative designs from a work piece of various materials, such as metal or wood, using hand tools or semi-automatic equipment.
• Operate precision measuring equipment: Measure the size of a processed part when checking and marking it to check if it is up to standard by use of two and three dimensional precision measuring equipment such as a caliper, a micrometer, and a measuring gauge.
• Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
• Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
• Cut ornamental design: Cut decorative designs from a work piece of various materials, such as metal or wood, using hand tools or semi-automatic equipment.
• Mark a metal workpiece using punch: Handle and operate a punch and hammer to mark a metal work piece, for example for the purpose of carving a serial number, or for drilling to mark the exact place where a the hole should be places in order to keep the drill steady.
• Apply precision metalworking techniques: Comply with precision standards specific to an organisation or product in metalworking, involved in processes such as engraving, precise cutting, welding.
• Shape metal over anvils: Forge pieces of metal over an anvil using the appropriate hand tools and heating equipment.
• Recognise signs of corrosion: Recognise the symptoms of metal showing oxidation reactions with the environment resulting in rusting, copper pitting, stress cracking, and others, and estimate the rate of corrosion.
• Ensure correct metal temperature: Ensure the necessary, usually constant, temperature of processed metal workpieces during metal fabrication processes.
• Heat metals: Heat steel and metals in fire; adjust and regulate heat controls to reach appropriate pouring temperature.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of ornamental metal worker. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Non-ferrous metal processing: Various processing methods on non-ferrous metals and alloys such as copper, zinc and aluminium.
• Cutting technologies: The variety of cutting technologies, such as software or mechanics, guiding cutting processes through lasering, sawing, milling etc.
• Manufacturing of cutlery: The manufacture of different cutlery items, such as forks, spoons, knives, razors or scissors.
• Ferrous metal processing: Various processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.
• Manufacturing of metal household articles: The manufacture of flatware , hollowware , dinnerware and other non-electrical utensils for use at the table or in the kitchen.
• Metal forming technologies: The variety of technologies and techniques, such as forging, pressing, stamping, rolling and others, used for the forming processes of metal product manufacturing.
• Engraving technologies: The characteristics of various materials and methods used to engrave something on a surface.
• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
• Cold forging: The metalworking process of forging whilst hot metal is right below its recrystallisation temperature, being cooled and solidified after casting.
• Types of metal manufacturing processes: Metal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.
• Manufacturing of door furniture from metal: The manufacture of metal items that can be attached to a door in order to support its function and appearance. The manufacture of padlocks, locks, keys, hinges and the like, and hardware for buildings, furniture, vehicles etc.
• Manufacturing of doors from metal: The manufacture of metal doors, windows and their frames, shutters and gates, and the metal room partitions for floor attachment.
• Hot forging: The metalworking process of forging whilst the hot metal is right above its recrystallisation temperature after casting and being solidified.
• Manufacturing of weapons and ammunition: The manufacture of heavy weapons (artillery, mobile guns, rocket launchers, torpedo tubes, heavy machine guns), small arms (revolvers, shotguns, light machine guns), air or gas guns and pistols, and war ammunition. Also the manufacture of hunting, sporting or protective firearms and ammunition and of explosive devices such as bombs, mines and torpedoes.
• Metal coating technologies: The various processes and technologies used for to coating and painting fabricated metal workpieces.
• Precious metal processing: Various processing methods on precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of ornamental metal worker. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Operate brazing equipment: Use equipment designed for brazing processes in order to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel.
• Engrave patterns: Engrave and print designs and patterns onto a variety of surfaces.
• Apply arc welding techniques: Apply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of arc welding, such as shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, submerged arc welding and flux-cored arc welding.
• Operate welding equipment: Use welding equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel; wear protective eyewear during the working process.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Apply brazing techniques: Apply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of brazing, such as torch brazing, braze welding and dip brazing.
• Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
• Apply smithing techniques: Apply techniques and use technologies in relation to the various smithing processes, including sculpting, forging, upsetting, heat treating, and finishing.
• Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
• Operate rust proofing spray gun: Operate a semi-automatic or handheld spray gun designed to provide the surface of a workpiece with a permanent, corrosion-protective finishing coat, safely and according to regulations.
• Operate engraving equipment: Operate mechanical engraving tools and machines, set controls of cutting tools. Make adjustments if necessary.
• Work with blacksmithing power tools: Work with drills, air chisels, power hammers, hydraulic presses, grinders, and others to create (semi-)hand-made metal products by performing blacksmithing operations.
• Work with blacksmithing hand tools: Work with hammers, chisels, anvils, tongs, vises, forges, and others to create hand-made metal products by performing blacksmithing operations.
• Perform machine maintenance: Perform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.
• Mark processed workpiece: Inspect and mark parts of the workpiece to indicate how they will fit into the finished product.
• Smooth burred surfaces: Inspect and smooth burred surfaces of steel and metal parts.
• Set up the controller of a machine: Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.
• Provide customer follow-up services: Register, follow-up, solve and respond to customer requests, complaints and after-sales services.
• Operate soldering equipment: Use soldering equipment, such as a soldering gun, a soldering torch or a gas-powered iron, to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel.
• Select filler metal: Select optimal metal used for metal joining purposes, such as zinc, lead or copper metals, specifically for welding, soldering or brazing practices.

7223 – Metal working machine tool setters and operators

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References

1. Ornamental metal worker – ESCO