Furniture finishers and refinishers (NOC 9534)

Furniture finishers:

• set up and operate finishing machines or finish furniture by hand
• stain or finish wood to a certain colour with stains, paints or other materials using a brush or spray gun
• apply toners, highlights, glazes or shaders to achieve the desired finish
• apply lacquer or other sealers
• decorate wood surfaces or mark surfaces to create antique effects using hand and power tools
• clean and polish furniture
• sand metal furniture to prepare for finish and spray with paint or other materials

Furniture refinishers:

• remove old finish from wood surfaces using steel wool, sandpaper and solvents
• smooth gouges with wood filler and sand wood
• match colours to obtain original finish and apply finish to stripped wood
• polish and wax refinished surfaces
• sand or grind metal surfaces to prepare for coating, and paint metal surfaces using electrostatic method, spray gun or other painting equipment
• make minor repairs to furniture
• may perform duties of furniture finisher

Key aspects of work in this occupation:

• Furniture finishers and refinishers usually work in a conventional controlled environment such as an office, hospital or school
• Work may involve chemicals that are harmful to skin or eyes, dangerous if inhaled or may cause a fire or explosion.
• Work is done in the presence of strong odours.
• Workers are exposed to non-poisonous airborne materials such as textile dust, flour, sand, sawdust and feathers in the work environment.
• Work is done with equipment, machinery or power/hand tools that could cause an injury.

Examples:

• operating metal machining tools to shape metal
• using hand and power tools to fabricate wood products.