Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

What the job really is

Operate or tend furnaces, such as gas, oil, coal, electric-arc or electric induction, open-hearth, or oxygen furnaces, to melt and refine metal before casting or to produce specified types of steel.

At a glance

• Sector: Production
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-4051
• 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:

• Regulate supplies of fuel and air, or control flow of electric current and water coolant to heat furnaces and adjust temperatures.
• Draw smelted metal samples from furnaces or kettles for analysis, and calculate types and amounts of materials needed to ensure that materials meet specifications.
• Weigh materials to be charged into furnaces, using scales.
• Record production data, and maintain production logs.
• Observe air and temperature gauges or metal color and fluidity, and turn fuel valves or adjust controls to maintain required temperatures.
• Operate controls to move or discharge metal workpieces from furnaces.
• Inspect furnaces and equipment to locate defects and wear.
• Drain, transfer, or remove molten metal from furnaces, and place it into molds, using hoists, pumps, or ladles.
• Kindle fires, and shovel fuel and other materials into furnaces or onto conveyors by hand, with hoists, or by directing crane operators.
• Prepare material to load into furnaces, including cleaning, crushing, or applying chemicals, by using crushing machines, shovels, rakes, or sprayers.
• Remove impurities from the surface of molten metal, using strainers.
• Observe operations inside furnaces, using television screens, to ensure that problems do not occur.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Air gauges, Anneal furnaces, Argon purging systems, Basic oxygen furnaces, Blast furnaces, Channel induction furnaces, Chemical protection goggles, Closed circuit television monitors, Coal furnaces, Control computers

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
• Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
• Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
• Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

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: Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders — 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.