Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life
Precious Metal Workers
Precious Metal Workers cast, anneal, solder, hammer, or shape gold, silver, pewter or other metals to form jewelry or other metal items such as goblets or candlesticks.
Table of Contents
Job Description
Precious Metal Workers cast, anneal, solder, hammer, or shape gold, silver, pewter or other metals to form jewelry or other metal items such as goblets or candlesticks. They also cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.
Other tasks include:
- Solder parts together or fill holes and cracks with metal solder, using gas torches.
- Anneal precious metal objects such as coffeepots, tea sets, and trays in gas ovens for prescribed times to soften metal for reworking.
- Polish articles by hand or by using a polishing wheel.
- Pierce and cut open designs in ornamentation, using hand drills and scroll saws.
- Position and align auxiliary parts in jigs and join parts, using solder and blowtorches.
- Rotate molds to distribute alloys and to prevent formation of air pockets.
We asked Precious Metal Workers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.
53%
28%
53% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 28% 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, Precious Metal Workers carry castings or finished items to storage areas or to different work stations. They cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.
A typical day for a Precious Metal Worker will also include:
- Hammer out dents and bulges, selecting and using hammers and dollies with heads that correspond in curvature to article surfaces.
- Weigh completed items to determine weights and record any deviations.
- Sand interior mold parts to remove glaze residue, apply new glaze to molds, and allow it to dry for mold assembly.
- Examine articles to determine the nature of defects requiring repair, such as dents, uneven bottoms, scratches, or holes.
- Strike articles with small tools, or punch them with hammers, to indent them or restore embossing.
We asked some Precious Metal Workers 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? | 38% said yes | |
How important is it to work in a team in this job? | 24% said very important | |
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? | 71% said yes | |
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? | 28% said yes | |
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? | 10% said yes | |
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? | 57% said yes |
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Precious Metal Workers also anneal precious metal objects such as coffeepots, tea sets, and trays in gas ovens for prescribed times to soften metal for reworking. They may also research reference materials, analyze production data, and consult with interested parties to develop ideas for new products.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Precious Metal Workers Glue plastic separators to handles of coffeepots and teapots. They might also Peen edges of scratches or holes to repair defects, using peening hammers.
In addition, they Secure molded items in chucks of lathes, and activate lathes to finish inner and outer surfaces of items.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them Trim gates and sharp points from cast parts, using band saws.
To some Precious Metal Workers, it is also their responsibility to Weigh and mix alloy ingredients, using formulas and knowledge of ingredients’ chemical properties.
Working life
Standard 40 hour work week
Regular schedule like a 9 to 5
In a typical work week as a Precious Metal Worker, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.
Is this right for me
The Builders and The Artists
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.
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