What Do Molding and Casting Workers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Molding and Casting Workers perform a variety of duties such as mixing materials, assembling mold parts, filling molds, and stacking molds to mold and cast a wide range of products. They also pour, pack, spread, or press plaster, concrete, liquid plastic, or other materials into or around models or molds.

Other tasks include:

• Read work orders or examine parts to determine parts or sections of products to be produced.
• Engrave or stamp identifying symbols, letters, or numbers on products.
• Brush or spray mold surfaces with parting agents or insert paper into molds to ensure smoothness and prevent sticking or seepage.
• Assemble, insert, and adjust wires, tubes, cores, fittings, rods, or patterns into molds, using hand tools and depth gauges.
• Clean, finish, and lubricate molds and mold parts.
• Separate models or patterns from molds and examine products for accuracy.

We asked Molding and Casting Workers 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, Molding and Casting Workers pour, pack, spread, or press plaster, concrete, liquid plastic, or other materials into or around models or molds. They set the proper operating temperature for each casting.

A typical day for a Molding and Casting Worker will also include:

• Construct or form molds for use in casting metal, clay, or plaster objects, using plaster, fiberglass, rubber, casting machines, patterns, or flasks.
• Select sizes and types of molds according to instructions.
• Melt metal pieces, using torches, and cast products, such as inlays and crowns, using centrifugal casting machines.
• Clean, finish, and lubricate molds and mold parts.
• Read work orders or examine parts to determine parts or sections of products to be produced.

We asked some Molding and Casting 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?	5% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	43% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	47% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	10% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	7% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	12% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Molding and Casting Workers also bore holes or cut grates, risers, or pouring spouts in molds, using power tools. They may also tap or tilt molds to ensure uniform distribution of materials.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Molding and Casting Workers Measure and cut products to specified dimensions, using measuring and cutting instruments. They might also Patch broken edges or fractures, using clay or plaster.

In addition, they Place forms around models and separately immerse each half portion of a model in plaster, wax, or other mold-making materials.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Operate molding machines that compact sand in flasks to form molds.

To some Molding and Casting Workers, it is also their responsibility to Locate and scribe parting lines on patterns, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, squares, or depth gauges.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Molding and Casting Worker, 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 following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

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