Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

What the job really is

Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. Includes chippers, buffers, and finishers.

At a glance

• Sector: Production
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-9022
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Air grinders, Angle grinders, Belt sanders, Buffing wheels, Cleaning scrapers, Dial bore gauges, Dial indicators, Digital height gauges, Digital micrometers, Electric sander-polishers

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
• Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
• Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Tool and Die Makers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.