WoodworkersDespite the development of sophisticated plastics and other materials, the demand for wood products continues unabated. Helping to meet this demand are woodworkers. Woodworkers are found in industries that produce wood, such as sawmills and plywood mills; in industries that use wood to produce furniture, kitchen cabinets, musical instruments, and other fabricated wood products; or in small shops that make architectural woodwork, furniture, and many other specialty items. All woodworkers are employed at some stage of the process through which logs of wood are transformed into finished products. Some of these workers produce the structural elements of buildings; others mill hardwood and softwood lumber; still others assemble finished wood products. They operate machines that cut, shape, assemble, and finish raw wood to make the doors, windows, cabinets, trusses, plywood, flooring, paneling, molding, and trim that are components of most homes. Others may fashion home accessories, such as beds, sofas, tables, dressers, and chairs. In addition to these household goods, woodworkers also make sporting goods, including baseball bats and oars, as well as musical instruments, toys, caskets, tool handles, and thousands of other wooden items. Production woodworkers set up, operate, and tend woodworking machines such as power saws, planers, sanders, lathes, jointers, and routers that cut and shape components from lumber, plywood, and other wood products. In sawmills, sawing machine operators and tenders set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines that cut logs into planks, timbers, or boards. In plants manufacturing wood products, woodworkers first determine the best method of shaping and assembling parts, working from blueprints, supervisors� instructions, or shop drawings that woodworkers themselves produce. Before cutting, they often must measure and mark the materials. They verify dimensions and may trim parts using handtools such as planes, chisels, wood files, or sanders to ensure a tight fit. Woodworking machine operators and tenders set up, operate, or tend specific woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood-nailing machines. Lower skilled operators may merely press a switch on a woodworking machine and monitor the automatic operation, whereas more highly skilled operators set up equipment, cut and shape wooden parts, and verify dimensions using a template, caliper, or rule. The next step in the manufacturing process is the production of subassemblies using fasteners and adhesives. Next, the pieces are brought together to form a complete unit. The product is then finish-sanded, stained, and, if necessary, coated with a sealer, such as lacquer or varnish. Woodworkers may perform this work in teams or be assisted by a helper. Woodworkers have been greatly affected by the introduction of computer-controlled machinery. This technology has raised worker productivity by allowing one operator to simultaneously tend a greater number of machines. With computerized numerical controls (CNC), an operator can program a machine to perform a sequence of operations automatically, resulting in greater precision and reliability. The integration of computers with equipment has improved production speeds and capabilities, simplified setup and maintenance requirements, and increased the demand for workers with computer skills. While this costly equipment has had a great impact on workers in the largest, most efficient firms, precision or custom woodworkers—who generally work in smaller firms—have continued to employ the same production techniques they have used for many years. Workers such as cabinetmakers and bench carpenters; model makers and patternmakers; and furniture finishers work on a customized basis, often building one-of-a-kind items. These highly skilled precision woodworkers usually perform a complete cycle of tasks—cutting, shaping, and preparing surfaces, and assembling prepared parts of complex wood components into a finished wood product. For this reason, these workers normally need substantial training and an ability to work from detailed instructions and specifications. In addition, they often are required to exercise independent judgment when undertaking an assignment. Related news articles Renovation restores light to US Catholic Church’s 1st cathedral - 16 Oct 2006 Catholic Online,...foursome. Today, only these two are known to exist, and they are being restored by Baltimore master woodworker Jim Adajian. One ... At Your Job: Woodworker: WOODWORKER - Oct 9, 2006 Asbury Park Press,EDUCATION: I graduated from Henry Hudson High School, and then I went to Monmouth County Vocational School for four years at night for blueprint reading and ... Woodworker to speak at school - Oct 5, 2006 Press-Enterprise (subscription),SAN BERNARDINO - Master woodworker Sam Maloof will speak to students at Cal State San Bernardino in the university's Santos Manuel Student Union Theatre on ... Woodworker Crafts Toys To Give Away - Oct 4, 2006 KFMB,If “Goldy�? Goldsmith, at 83 years old spends his days surrounded by kids’ toys, there’sa reason. “When we were growing ... Woodworker finds joy in furniture - Sep 21, 2006 Billings Gazette,CODY - Woodworker Sam Maloof said he felt a little guilty leaving his workshop to speak Wednesday to a standing-room-only crowd at the Buffalo Bill Historical ... Woodworker Bill Gillespie makes toys for his grandchildren - Sep 18, 2006 Villages Daily Sun,He said he’s been doing it since he learned how to stand. “My father was a woodworker,�? Gillespie said, “and I grew up in his woodshop.�?. ... Woodworker has carved out his business niche - Sep 18, 2006 Mail Tribune,EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a weekly series of profiles on locally owned and operated businesses in Southern Oregon. What do you ... Fair's 'historic area' features quilters, woodworker - Sep 26, 2006 Sunbury Daily Item,BLOOMSBURG — Travel off the beaten path at the Bloomsburg Fair, and you'll find some people using their hands for something other than throwing darts at ... College honors a teacher and `inspiration' - Oct 15, 2006 Boston Globe,I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the dorm.". Gordon spent about $1 million to remake the old Woodworker's Warehouse into a 24-student residence hall. ... A grand way to see fall beauty - Oct 15, 2006 Elmira Star-Gazette,Go three miles, turn around and come back. The 46-foot-long oak-and-ash wagons were made by an Amish woodworker from Lancaster. They hold 16 to 30 people. ... After Calling Tech Support, It Seems My Laptop Is in Need of Life ... - Oct 15, 2006 The Ledger,...the car to move. As a woodworker, I understand that boards come from trees, and are not delivered by the wood stork. Alas, at a ... 77-year-old hard at work on no-nails timber home - Oct 15, 2006 Muskegon Chronicle,...mortise, of another timber. "I don't play golf. I'ma woodworker," Frens said of his unusual retirement plan. "We currently live in ... Five Questions With Alan Page - Oct 10, 2006 Dr. Dobb's Journal,Perhaps it's an overused comparison, but I think of testing techniques and methodologies as woodworker's tools, and the act of testing as the woodworking. ... Lessons from an Amish tragedy - Oct 12, 2006 renewamerica.us,Commented Sam Stoltzfus, an Amish woodworker: "We think it was God's plan and we're going to have to pick up the pieces and keep going. ... Adair: A lesson on forgiveness - Oct 13, 2006 Easton Journal,You may not agree, but it's calming how Sam Stoltfus, 63, an Amish woodworker who lives near the shooting scene put it: "We think it was God's plan and we're ... "Shoot Me First!" - Oct 13, 2006 The Conservative Voice,Daniel Esh, a 57-year-old Amish artist and woodworker whose three grandnephews had been in the school, said of the Roberts Family, according to the Associated ... Let’s eat! - Oct 13, 2006 Siskiyou Daily News,...them out. The flat surface of the paddle is tapered to a very thin tip, not an easy job for even a talented woodworker. Those aluminum ... Refurbished Building Means More Refurbishing And Building - Oct 13, 2006 Brooklyn Downtown STAR...and mid-sized industrial manufacturers. Pic 24: Woodworker Eric Batchelor at his new shop of the same name. He said that thanks ... Signs a personal campaign to save farmland - Oct 13, 2006 Mount Vernon News,Now Maier, who is also a woodworker, has revived the mode and the humor, whimsy and the clever method of getting a message across. ... A hand for John Nelson - Oct 13, 2006 Brainerd Daily Dispatch,Nelson is a gifted woodworker and makes crafts in his wood shop. Some are sold in the senior center gift shop to help raise money for the senior center. ... More information on Woodworkers from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Overview of Woodworkers occupation Number of Woodworkers in the U.S. Salary and earnings for Woodworkers Working conditions for Woodworkers Significant points for Woodworkers Training requirements for Woodworkers Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new |