Description
Set up, operate, and tend polishing machines and hand tools to buff and finish surfaces on metal, glass, stone, plastic, or other products to specified finishes and dimensions.
- • Read work orders or blueprints to determine finishing specifications, materials, and schedules.
- • Set up polishing and buffing machines, wheels, pads, belts, and fixtures according to specifications.
- • Select and apply appropriate abrasives, compounds, slurries, and pads for required finishes.
- • Start, stop, and adjust polishers and buffers to control speed, pressure, feed, and compound flow.
- • Observe equipment and process to maintain flow, safety, and consistent surface quality; detect malfunctions.
- • Load, secure, and align workpieces; unload finished parts.
- • Inspect surfaces visually and by touch to verify smoothness, luster, and absence of defects.
- • Measure surface finish and dimensions using gauges, calipers, micrometers, profilometers, or gloss meters.
- • Record production, inspection, and process data on specified forms or systems.
- • Change, dress, or replace polishing wheels, belts, and pads when worn.
- • Clean, adjust, and maintain polishing equipment and work areas.
- • Reject nonconforming parts and adjust settings or process to correct issues.
- • Clear jams or misfeeds safely and reset equipment.
- • Tend accessory equipment such as conveyors, dust collectors, and part washers to move and clean parts.
- • Mix, replenish, or adjust polishing compounds and slurries as required.
- • Apply cleaners or protective coatings after polishing when specified.
- • Mark or tag batches and containers with finish codes, lot numbers, or material types.
- • Weigh or count parts at intervals to verify production and packaging requirements.
- • Inspect belts, wheels, guards, and drives for wear or damage.
- • Notify supervisors of hazards, malfunctions, or needed repairs.
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Advanced Manufacturing
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Source
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
