Paint mixer

Description

Paint mixers operate and maintain machines that mix lacquers, solvents and paints in order to produce paint, making sure the end product is according to the specified formula.

A paint mixer typically does the following:

  • Mixes paint (solvent and water base) for use in painting according to formulas
  • Properly discards left over paints, thinners, solvents according to EPA standards
  • Compares mixed paint color to vehicle to ensure proper color match
  • May assist painter in preparing spray out cards to determine blending needs
  • Responsible for flagging/tracking the teams paint hours
  • Communicating with supervisors and coworkers about processes
  • Orders paint, materials, and supplies
  • Responsible for keeping the mix room, paint guns, and other equipment clean to ensure longevity

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to paint mixer:

paint production assistant
paint maker
paint mixer operative
paint mixer worker
maker of paint
paint production worker
paint mixer operator

Minimum qualifications

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as paint mixer.

ISCO skill level

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.

Paint mixer is a Skill level 2 occupation.

Paint mixer career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to paint mixer.

pesticide mixer
soap chipper
chemical mixer
fertiliser mixer
clay products dry kiln operator

Long term prospects

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

chemical plant control room operator
chemical processing plant controller
air separation plant operator
gas processing plant supervisor
gas station operator

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of paint mixer.

  • Measure chemical substance viscosity: Measure the viscosity of the mixed ingredients by using a viscosimeter.
  • Monitor environmental parameters: Check the impact of manufacturing machinery on the environment, analysing temperature levels, water quality and air pollution.
  • Tend paint mixer: Tend machines that mix lacquer stain and paint in order to obtain as end product paint of the required specifications.
  • Prepare paint ingredients: Prepare the paint ingredients to be mixed such as thinner, solvent, paint or lacquer making sure they are correctly weighted and are according to the specified formula.
  • Monitor valves: Monitor and accordingly adjust the valves in order to allow a specific amount of liquids (such as ammonia sulfuric acid or viscous soap) or steam into the mixer or machine.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

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

  • Manufacturing plant equipment: The characteristics and functioning conditions of manufacturing plant equipments such as chemical reactors, addition tanks, pumps, filters, mixers.

Optional skills and competences

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

  • Optimise production processes parameters: Optimise and maintain the parameters of the production process such as flow, temperature or pressure.
  • Manage delivery of raw materials: Receive raw materials from the suppliers. Check their quality and accuracy and move them into the warehouse. Make sure that raw materials are adequately stored until they are required by the production department.
  • Pump paint: Pump, from the central station, the paint, in order to spray booths.
  • Write batch record documentation: Write reports on the manufactured batches history taking into account the raw data, tests performed and compliance to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) of each batch of product.
  • Filter paint: Filter the impurities from the paint.
  • Clean mixer: Perform the cleaning of mixers in order to prepare them for mixing different types of compounds.

ISCO group and title

8131 – Chemical products plant and machine operators


References
  1. ESCO
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Last updated on July 11, 2022

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