Will “Abrasive Coating Machine Operator” be Automated?

Core Skills & Abilities

• Record operational data on specified forms.

• Fill small dents or scratches with body fillers and smooth surfaces to prepare for painting.

• Weigh or measure chemicals, coatings, or paints before adding them to machines.

• Clean equipment and work areas.

• Sand and apply sealer to properly dried finish.

• Apply rust-resistant undercoats and caulk and seal seams.

• Operate auxiliary machines or equipment used in coating or painting processes.

• Turn dials, handwheels, valves, or switches to regulate conveyor speeds, machine temperature, air pressure and circulation, and the flow or spray of coatings or paints.

• Thread or feed items or products through or around machine rollers and dryers.

• Remove materials, parts, or workpieces from painting or coating machines, using hand tools.

• Set up portable equipment, such as ventilators, exhaust units, ladders, or scaffolding.

• Remove grease, dirt, paint, or rust from surfaces in preparation for paint application, using abrasives, solvents, brushes, blowtorches, washing tanks, or sandblasters.

• Observe machine gauges and equipment operation to detect defects or deviations from standards, and make adjustments as necessary.

• Examine, measure, weigh, or test sample products to ensure conformance to specifications.

• Apply primer over any repairs made to surfaces.

• Attach hoses or nozzles to machines, using wrenches and pliers, and make adjustments to obtain the proper dispersion of spray.

• Start and stop operation of machines, using levers or buttons.

• Operate lifting or moving devices to move equipment or materials to access areas to be painted.

• Monitor painting operations to identify flaws, such as blisters or streaks, and correct their causes.

• Mix paints to match color specifications or original colors, stirring or thinning paints, using spatulas or power mixing equipment.

• Use brush to hand-paint areas in need of retouching or unreachable with a spray gun.

• Hold or position spray guns to direct spray onto articles.

• Fill hoppers, reservoirs, troughs, or pans with material used to coat, paint, or spray, using conveyors or pails.

• Spray prepared surfaces with specified amounts of primers and decorative or finish coatings.

• Disassemble, clean, and reassemble sprayers or power equipment, using solvents, wire brushes, and cloths.

• Determine paint flow, viscosity, and coating quality by performing visual inspections, or by using viscometers.

• Buff and wax the finished paintwork.

• Adjust controls on infrared ovens, heat lamps, portable ventilators, or exhaust units to speed the drying of surfaces between coats.

• Dispose of hazardous waste in an appropriate manner.