What Do Wood Model Makers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Wood Model Makers construct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Includes wood jig builders and loft workers. They also verify dimensions and contours of models during hand-forming processes, using templates and measuring devices.

Other tasks include:

• Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications, and consult with designers to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
• Set up, operate, and adjust a variety of woodworking machines such as bandsaws and planers to cut and shape sections, parts, and patterns, according to specifications.
• Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, screws, and other fasteners.
• Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.
• Select wooden stock, determine layouts, and mark layouts of parts on stock, using precision equipment such as scribers, squares, and protractors.
• Construct wooden models, patterns, templates, full scale mock-ups, and molds for parts of products and production tools.

We asked Wood Model Makers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Wood Model Makers fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, screws, and other fasteners. They trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.

A typical day for a Wood Model Maker will also include:

• Construct wooden models, patterns, templates, full scale mock-ups, and molds for parts of products and production tools.
• Set up, operate, and adjust a variety of woodworking machines such as bandsaws and planers to cut and shape sections, parts, and patterns, according to specifications.
• Verify dimensions and contours of models during hand-forming processes, using templates and measuring devices.
• Select wooden stock, determine layouts, and mark layouts of parts on stock, using precision equipment such as scribers, squares, and protractors.
• Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications, and consult with designers to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.

We asked some Wood Model Makers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	58% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	50% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	79% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	4% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	11% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	75% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Wood Model Makers also maintain pattern records for reference. They may also mark identifying information on patterns, parts, and templates to indicate assembly methods and details.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Wood Model Makers Fabricate work aids such as scrapers or templates. They might also Issue patterns to designated machine operators.

In addition, they Plan, lay out, and draw outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Select wooden stock, determine layouts, and mark layouts of parts on stock, using precision equipment such as scribers, squares, and protractors.

To some Wood Model Makers, it is also their responsibility to Build jigs that can be used as guides for assembling oversized or special types of box shooks.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Wood Model Maker, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/production/woodworkers.htm

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes517031.htm