About This Career

Constructs full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Includes wood jig builders and loft workers.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Production pathway.

A person in this career:

• Verifies dimensions and contours of models during hand-forming processes, using templates and measuring devices.
• Reads blueprints, drawings, or written specifications, and consults with designers to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
• Sets up, operates, and adjusts a variety of woodworking machines such as bandsaws and planers to cut and shape sections, parts, and patterns, according to specifications.
• Fits, fastens, and assembles wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, screws, and other fasteners.
• Trims, smooths, and shapes surfaces, and planes, shaves, files, scrapes, and sands models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.
• Selects wooden stock, determines layouts, and marks layouts of parts on stock, using precision equipment such as scribers, squares, and protractors.
• Constructs wooden models, patterns, templates, full scale mock-ups, and molds for parts of products and production tools.
• Marks identifying information on patterns, parts, and templates to indicate assembly methods and details.
• Plans, lays out, and draws outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products.
• Fabricate work aids such as scrapers or templates.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 50 lbs., sometimes up to 100 lbs. You will need a lot of strength at this level.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel