# Tasks & work activities — cooper

Source: O*NET 30.3, occupation 51-7021.00 (Furniture Finishers) — manual nearest-occupation mapping via ISCO group 7522; the official ESCO crosswalk has no entry for this ESCO occupation.

## Task statements

- **[Core]** Mix finish ingredients to obtain desired colors or shades.
- **[Core]** Brush, spray, or hand-rub finishing ingredients, such as paint, oil, stain, or wax, onto and into wood grain and apply lacquer or other sealers.
- **[Core]** Smooth, shape, and touch up surfaces to prepare them for finishing, using sandpaper, pumice stones, steel wool, chisels, sanders, or grinders.
- **[Core]** Select appropriate finishing ingredients such as paint, stain, lacquer, shellac, or varnish, depending on factors such as wood hardness and surface type.
- **[Core]** Fill and smooth cracks or depressions, remove marks and imperfections, and repair broken parts, using plastic or wood putty, glue, nails, or screws.
- **[Core]** Distress surfaces with woodworking tools or abrasives before staining to create an antique appearance, or rub surfaces to bring out highlights and shadings.
- **[Core]** Examine furniture to determine the extent of damage or deterioration, and to decide on the best method for repair or restoration.
- **[Supplemental]** Paint metal surfaces electrostatically, or by using a spray gun or other painting equipment.
- **[Supplemental]** Recommend woods, colors, finishes, and furniture styles, using knowledge of wood products, fashions, and styles.
- **[Core]** Remove old finishes and damaged or deteriorated parts, using hand tools, stripping tools, sandpaper, steel wool, abrasives, solvents, or dip baths.
- **[Supplemental]** Follow blueprints to produce specific designs.
- **[Core]** Disassemble items to prepare them for finishing, using hand tools.
- **[Supplemental]** Wash surfaces to prepare them for finish application.
- **[Core]** Remove accessories prior to finishing, and mask areas that should not be exposed to finishing processes or substances.
- **[Core]** Treat warped or stained surfaces to restore original contours and colors.
- **[Supplemental]** Confer with customers to determine furniture colors or finishes.
- **[Supplemental]** Replace or refurbish upholstery of items, using tacks, adhesives, softeners, solvents, stains, or polish.
- **[Core]** Remove excess solvent, using cloths soaked in paint thinner.
- **[Core]** Stencil, gild, emboss, mark, or paint designs or borders to reproduce the original appearance of restored pieces, or to decorate new pieces.
- **[Supplemental]** Design, create, and decorate entire pieces or specific parts of furniture, such as draws for cabinets.
- **[Supplemental]** Brush bleaching agents on wood surfaces to restore natural color.
- **[Supplemental]** Spread graining ink over metal portions of furniture to simulate wood-grain finish.

## Detailed work activities

- Advise others on ways to improve processes or products.
- Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products.
- Clean workpieces or finished products.
- Confer with customers or designers to determine order specifications.
- Design furniture.
- Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.
- Examine condition of property or products.
- Fill cracks, imperfections, or holes in products or workpieces.
- Mix ingredients to create specific finishes.
- Operate grinding equipment.
- Operate painting or coating equipment.
- Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
- Remove accessories, tools, or other parts from equipment.
- Repair furniture or upholstery.
- Select production input materials.
- Shape surfaces or edges of wood workpieces.