Furniture Finishers Onet SOC Code 51-7021.00 Career Description: Shape, finish, and refinish damaged, worn, or used furniture or new high-grade furniture to specified color or finish. Related Clusters:

Career Summary:

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

• Most employers prefer hiring high school graduates for this position. Much of the job is learned through on-the-job training with experienced furniture finishers. Additional training at a Tennessee technology center may be helpful for career advancement. For related information and recommended courses to prepare for this occupation, Tennessee high school students may visit the Trade and Industrial Education Standards, Competency Profiles, and Resource Links online.

• Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
• Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

• Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

• Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

• Moral Values - Workers on this job are never pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
• Independence - Workers on this job do their work alone.
• Achievement - Workers on this job get a feeling of accomplishment.
• Autonomy - Workers on this job plan their work with little supervision.
• Working Conditions-Mean Extent - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Wage and salary data provided by:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee Department of Labor website
• TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development website
• Bureau of Economic Analysis website