What Do Wood Sawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders Do

• Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules.
• Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.
• Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.
• Adjust bolts, clamps, stops, guides, or table angles or heights, using hand tools.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Wood Sawing Machine Operators dispose of waste material after completing work assignments. They guide workpieces against saws, saw over workpieces by hand, or operate automatic feeding devices to guide cuts.

A typical day for a Wood Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender will also include:

• Operate panelboards of saw or conveyor systems to move stock through processes or to cut the stock to specified dimensions.
• Count, sort, or stack finished workpieces.
• Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules.
• Examine logs or lumber to plan the best cuts.
• Trim lumber to straighten rough edges or remove defects, using circular saws.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Wood Sawing Machine Operators also sharpen blades or replace defective or worn blades or bands, using hand tools. They may also lubricate or clean machines, using wrenches, grease guns, or solvents.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Wood Sawing Machine Operators clear machine jams, using hand tools. They might also mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.

In addition, they unload and roll logs from trucks to sawmill decks or to carriages or move logs in ponds, using pike poles.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them pull tables back against stops and depress pedals to advance cutterheads that shape stock ends.

To some Wood Sawing Machine Operators, it is also their responsibility to adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.