Occupation

Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

Human Advantage 61%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.8 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. Includes chippers, buffers, and finishers.

Also Known As: Aircraft Skin Burnisher, Balance Wheel Arm Burnisher, Balance Wheel Hand Filer, Barrel Finisher, Beveler, Bit Shaver, Buffer, Burrer +84 more

Core Tasks

  1. Verify quality of finished workpieces by inspecting them, comparing them to templates, measuring their dimensions, or testing them in working machinery.
  2. Grind, sand, clean, or polish objects or parts to correct defects or to prepare surfaces for further finishing, using hand tools and power tools.
  3. Measure and mark equipment, objects, or parts to ensure grinding and polishing standards are met.
  4. Trim, scrape, or deburr objects or parts, using chisels, scrapers, and other hand tools and equipment.
  5. Mark defects, such as knotholes, cracks, and splits, for repair.
  6. Study blueprints or layouts to determine how to lay out workpieces or saw out templates.
  7. Move controls to adjust, start, or stop equipment during grinding and polishing processes.
  8. Load and adjust workpieces onto equipment or work tables, using hand tools.
  9. Repair and maintain equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools.
  10. Select files or other abrasives, according to materials, sizes and shapes of workpieces, amount of stock to be removed, finishes specified, and steps in finishing processes.
  11. File grooved, contoured, and irregular surfaces of metal objects, such as metalworking dies and machine parts, to conform to templates, other parts, layouts, or blueprint specifications.
  12. Sharpen abrasive grinding tools, using machines and hand tools.
  13. Transfer equipment, objects, or parts to specified work areas, using moving devices.

Supplemental Tasks (4)

  1. Remove completed workpieces from equipment or work tables, using hand tools, and place workpieces in containers.
  2. Record product and processing data on specified forms.
  3. Apply solutions and chemicals to equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools.
  4. Clean brass particles from files by drawing file cards through file grooves.

Education & Training

Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
37%
Less than a High School Diploma
27%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
24%
Some College Courses
12%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word

Tools & Equipment (23)

  • Air grinders
  • Angle grinders
  • Belt sanders
  • Buffing wheels
  • Cleaning scrapers
  • Dial bore gauges
  • Dial indicators
  • Digital height gauges
  • Digital micrometers
  • Electric sander-polishers
  • File cards
  • Finishers
  • Flat cold chisels
  • Measuring tapes
  • Orbit polishers
  • Orbital buffers
  • Orbital sanders
  • Pad sanders
  • Power chippers
  • Precision file sets
  • Profile meters
  • Straight grinders
  • Tire buffers

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Production & Automation Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 1
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials 81% match
Zone 2
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand You are here
Zone 3
Model Makers, Wood 78% match
Zone 4
Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians 75% match
Zone 5
Nanosystems Engineers 73% match

Resume Builder

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Related Occupations

Compare skills gap with any of these related roles.

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticClosely Related Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersClosely Related Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingClosely Related Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersClosely Related Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersClosely Related Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
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Real Talk

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