Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
Also called Resaw Operator, Rip Saw Operator, Saw Operator, or Sawyer
What Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood do
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Includes lead sawyers.
Who tends to enjoy it
Hands-on
People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Curious
People who like figuring things out, research, science, and solving problems.
What you'd actually do
- Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules.
- Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.
- Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.
- Set up, operate, or tend saws or machines that cut or trim wood to specified dimensions, such as circular saws, band saws, multiple-blade sawing machines, scroll saws, ripsaws, or crozer machines.
- Inspect stock for imperfections or to estimate grades or qualities of stock or workpieces.
- Monitor sawing machines, adjusting speed and tension and clearing jams to ensure proper operation.
- Sharpen blades, or replace defective or worn blades or bands, using hand tools.
- Guide workpieces against saws, saw over workpieces by hand, or operate automatic feeding devices to guide cuts.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Troubleshooting
- Quality Control Analysis
What you'll need to know
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Public Safety and Security
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
Where to study for this
College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.
- Cabinetmaking and Millwork 57 colleges
Related careers
Production
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
Set up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment.
Little to some preparation
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Little to some preparation
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Little to some preparation
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Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
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Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate, or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material.
Little to some preparation
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 51-7041.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.