Description
Fabricate, repair, and finish wooden products and components by cutting, shaping, and assembling materials; set up and operate hand and power woodworking tools and machines to surface, cut, or shape lumber and wood substitutes according to specifications and drawings.
- • Produce or assemble components of wooden products, such as furniture, fixtures, cabinetry, or custom pieces.
- • Verify dimensions and check the quality and fit of parts to meet specifications.
- • Set up and operate woodworking machines, including saws, jointers, planers, routers, shapers, mortisers, and sanders.
- • Measure and mark dimensions on stock following blueprints, templates, or shop drawings.
- • Reinforce joints with nails, screws, or other fasteners.
- • Attach parts or subassemblies using glue, dowels, nails, screws, or clamps.
- • Determine specifications and plan methods for shaping or assembling based on drawings or instructions.
- • Cut material to size and shape and trim joints for a snug fit using hand tools such as planes, chisels, and files.
- • Select and match materials for color, grain, and texture, accounting for knots and defects.
- • Trim, sand, or scrape surfaces and joints to prepare for finishing.
- • Bore holes for screws or dowels by hand or with boring machines.
- • Program or set up CNC or computer-controlled machinery.
- • Estimate quantities, types, and costs of materials and supplies.
- • Perform final touch-ups with sandpaper or steel wool.
- • Install hardware such as hinges, slides, handles, pulls, and catches.
- • Repair or modify wooden furniture, cabinetry, fixtures, and paneling.
- • Apply laminates or veneers, including plastic laminate or vinyl surfacing materials.
- • Design or draft components using computer-aided design software.
- • Apply protective or decorative finishes such as stain, varnish, paint, or lacquer.
- • Consult with clients to clarify requirements and develop detailed specifications.
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Advanced Manufacturing
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
