Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

What the job really is

Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.

At a glance

• Sector: Production
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-9195
• 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:

• Smooth surfaces of molds, using scraping tools or sandpaper.
• Read work orders or examine parts to determine parts or sections of products to be produced.
• Trim or remove excess material, using scrapers, knives, or band saws.
• Brush or spray mold surfaces with parting agents or insert paper into molds to ensure smoothness and prevent sticking or seepage.
• Engrave or stamp identifying symbols, letters, or numbers on products.
• Assemble, insert, and adjust wires, tubes, cores, fittings, rods, or patterns into molds, using hand tools and depth gauges.
• Clean, finish, and lubricate molds and mold parts.
• Separate models or patterns from molds and examine products for accuracy.
• Set the proper operating temperature for each casting.
• Load or stack filled molds in ovens, dryers, or curing boxes, or on storage racks or carts.
• Align and assemble parts to produce completed products, using gauges and hand tools.
• Operate and adjust controls of heating equipment to melt material or to cure, dry, or bake filled molds.

Tools and technology

Dassault Systemes SolidWorks, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Adjustable hand wrenches, Band saws, Belt conveyors, C clamps, Centrifugal casting machines, Cleaning scrapers, Combination squares

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
• Foundry Mold and Coremakers
• Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
• Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing
• Machine Feeders and Offbearers

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: Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic — 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.