skillfactor-pipeline/skills/cooper/references/tasks.md

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.