Description
Wood sanders smoothen the surface of a wooden object using various sanding instruments. Each applies an abrasive surface, usually sandpaper, to the workpiece to remove irregularities.
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to wood sander:
floor sanding machine worker
sanding machine technician
sanding machine specialist
sanding machinist
wood sanding machine tender
sanding machine worker
hand wood sander
sanding machine operative
wood sanding machine setter
sanding machine operator
wood sander, hand
floor sander
production woodworker
sanding machine setter
floor sanding machine specialist
wood sanding machine operative
wood sanding machine worker
sanding machine tender
floor sanding machine operator
floor sanding machine technician
woodworker/sander
wood sanding machine operator
Minimum qualifications
No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a wood sander.
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.
Wood sander is a Skill level 2 occupation.
Wood sander career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to wood sander.
woodturner
wood products assembler
nailing machine operator
edge bander operator
wood boring machine operator
Long term prospects
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of wood sander. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of wood sander with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
pulp control operator
automated assembly line operator
wood production supervisor
wood assembly supervisor
plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor
Essential knowledge and skills
Essential knowledge
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of wood sander.
- Types of sanders: Types of electric sanders such palm grip and pistol grip sanders, their features and application.
- Woodworking processes: Steps in the processing of wood for the manufacturing of wooden articles and types of machines used for these processes such as drying, shaping, assembling and surface finishing.
- 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.
- Sanding techniques: The various sanding techniques (such as gang sanding), as well as the different sanding papers necessary for which surface.
- Sanding grits: Distinguish different grits of sandpaper in order to obtain a rougher or finer finish of the wood.
- Wood cuts: Different ways of cutting wood, across the grain or parallel with it, and radial or tangential to the core. The behaviour of cuts of wood under different circumstances and the optimal cut for a given purpose. Influence of special attributes of the wood, like knots or defects.
- Types of wood: Types of wood, such as birch, pine, poplar, mahogany, maple and tulipwood.
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of wood sander.
- Use sanding machines: Use and operate different kinds of sanding machines.
- Inspect wood materials: Carry out a thorough inspection of wood material using appropriate methods, instruments, tools, and other apparatus.
- Work safely with machines: Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.
- Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
- Maintain sanding machines: Clean and oil the machines used for smoothing surfaces, check for signs of corrosion, replace defective parts, and perform minor repairs to ensure good functioning.
- Sand wood: Use sanding machines or hand tools to remove paint or other substances from the surface of the wood, or to smoothen and finish the wood.
- Clean wood surface: Use a variety of techniques on a wood surface to ensure it is free of dust, sawdust, grease, stains, and other contaminants.
Optional knowledge and skills
Optional knowledge
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of wood sander. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Timber products: Key features, advantages and limitations of the different timbers and timber based products sold at a company and where to access this information.
- Woodworking tools: The various tools used to process wood, such as planers, chisels and lathes.
- Manufacturing of furniture: The manufacture of all types of office, shop, kitchen or other furniture such as chairs, tables, sofas, shelves, benches and more, in various types of material such as wood, glass, metal or plastic.
- Manufacturing of daily use goods: The manufacturing of items used in the daily life, personal use or daily practice. These products include protective safety equipment, drawing equipment, stamps, umbrellas, cigarette lighters, baskets, candles, and many other miscellaneous articles.
- Manufacturing of sports equipment: The manufacture of products and equipment used for both outdoor and indoor sports activities, such as balls, rackets, ski’s, surfboards, fishing, hunting, skating or fitness centre equipment.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of wood sander. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Use wood chisel: Use chisels or scrapers to scrape the wood and remove irregularities.
- Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
- Apply restoration techniques: Select and apply appropriate restoration techniques in order to achieve the required restoration goals. This encompasses preventive measures, remedial measures, restoration processes and management processes.
- Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
- Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
- 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.
- Dispose of non-hazardous waste: Dispose of waste materials which pose no risk to health and safety in a manner which complies with recycling and waste management procedures.
- Stain wood: Mix ingredients to create a stain and apply a layer to the furniture to give it a specific colour and finish.
- Meet contract specifications: Meet contract specifications, schedules and manufacturers’ information. Check that the work can be carried out in the estimated and allocated time.
- Identify hazards in the workplace: Perform safety audits and inspections on workplaces and workplace equipment. Ensure that they meet safety regulations and identify hazards and risks.
- Monitor automated machines: Continuously check up on the automated machine’s set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in order to identify abnormalities.
- Identify abrasives types: Identify the composition, suitability, and different types of abrasives.
- Dye wood: Mix the powder dye with water and/or liquid dye and any other necessary ingredients to create the desired colour and apply it to the wood.
- Supply machine: Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.
- Consult technical resources: Read and interpret such technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.
- Report defective manufacturing materials: Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
- Check quality of raw materials: Check the quality of basic materials used for the production of semi-finished and finished goods by assessing some of its characteristics and, if needed, select samples to be analysed.
- Operate thickness planer machine: Feed wood materials into the thickness planer, after which a surfaced board is retrieved. Avoid ‘sniping’ by using an additional piece of wood with the same thickness.
- Manage timber stocks: Inspect the stock to find out how much is left. Identify any damaged, faulty, or out of date items and move them to the appropriate location. Follow stock rotation methods to ensure stock is used effectively. Handle goods using safe and approved handling methods.
- Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
- 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.
- Apply wood finishes: Use a variety of techniques to finish wood. Paint, varnish and stain wood to improve its function, durability, or appearance.
ISCO group and title
7523 – Woodworking-machine tool setters and operators
References
- Wood sander – ESCO