Finisher / Polisher / Buffer
Quick Facts
Median Salary$43,664
Most Common EducationHigh school or GED
Projected 10-Year Growth-5.48%
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What They Do
A Finisher, Polisher, or Buffer cleans, sands and polishes materials such as wood, stone, plastic, or metal used in manufacturing processes. Performs finishing and polishing done at the final stages of production to prepare goods for consumers.
Core Tasks:
- 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.
- Repair and maintain equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools.
- Select files or other abrasives, according to materials, sizes and shapes of workpieces, amount of stock to be removed, finishes specified, and steps in finishing processes.
- File grooved, contoured, and irregular surfaces of metal objects, such as metalworking dies and machine parts, to conform to templates, other parts, layouts, or blueprint specifications.
- Sharpen abrasive grinding tools, using machines and hand tools.
- Transfer equipment, objects, or parts to specified work areas, using moving devices.
What to expect as a Finisher / Polisher / Buffer
1Earn a High school or GED Diploma
38% of people achieve this level of education.
2Gain skills and experience
See Finisher / Polisher / Buffer related courses on Tallo
3Land a job
733 openings for Finishers / Polishers / Buffers
Career Progression
in United States (Nation)
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