What You'll Do

  • Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.
  • 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.
  • Set up, operate, or tend saws or machines that cut or trim wood to specified dimensions, such as circular saws, band saws, multiple-blade sawing machines, scroll saws, ripsaws, or crozer machines.
  • Inspect stock for imperfections or to estimate grades or qualities of stock or workpieces.
  • Operate panelboards of saw or conveyor systems to move stock through processes or to cut stock to specified dimensions.
  • Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.
  • Monitor sawing machines, adjusting speed and tension and clearing jams to ensure proper operation.
  • Select saw blades, types or grades of stock, or cutting procedures to be used, according to work orders or supervisors' instructions.
  • Guide workpieces against saws, saw over workpieces by hand, or operate automatic feeding devices to guide cuts.

Essential Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.12/5
Operation and Control 3.12/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Monitoring 3.0/5
Troubleshooting 3.0/5
Quality Control Analysis 3.0/5
Active Listening 2.75/5
Equipment Maintenance 2.75/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.75/5
Time Management 2.75/5
Speaking 2.62/5
Coordination 2.62/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Stress Tolerance, Self-Control, Persistence

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Control Precision 3.62/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.38/5
Manual Dexterity 3.38/5
Near Vision 3.38/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.25/5
Finger Dexterity 3.25/5
Rate Control 3.25/5
Reaction Time 3.25/5

Technologies & Tools

Adobe Acrobat Automated inventory software Computerized numerical control CNC software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.3/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.29/5)
  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 4.17/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 4.16/5)
  • Persistence (High importance: 4.05/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Automatic Bandsaw Tender Automatic Edger Automatic Log Cut-Off Sawyer Backup Sawyer Band Saw Operator Band Saw Runner Band Sawyer Band Scroll Saw Operator Bandmill Operator Bandsaw Operator Bead Cutter Beading Sawyer Bill Cutter Billet Cutter Block Bolter Mule Operator Block Cutter Block Saw Operator Block Sawyer Board Saw Runner Bolt Machine Operator Bolt Maker Bolter Bottom Saw Operator Butting Saw Operator Button Sawyer Buzzsaw Operator Casey Saw Operator Chain Saw Driver Chop Saw Operator Chucking and Sawing Machine Operator Circle Cutting Saw Operator Circle Saw Operator Circular Head Saw Operator Clipper Machine Operator Clipper Operator Cob Sawyer Coping Machine Operator Cordwood Cutter Cork Slabs Sawyer Corner Brace Block Machine Operator Corner Former Corner Trimmer Operator Cross Cut Saw Operator Crosscutter Croze Machine Operator Crozer Crozer Operator Curve Saw Operator Cut Off Saw Operator Cut Off Sawyer Cut Off Worker Debarker Operator Defect Cutter Dimension Mill Worker Door Cutter Dowel Pointer Drag Sawyer Dragsaw Operator Drum Saw Operator Edge Runner Edge Sawyer Edger Edger Feeder Edger Operator Edger Runner Edger Saw Operator Edgerman Edging Catcher Edging Machine Operator Equalizer Equalizer Operator Gang Head Saw Operator Gang Saw Operator Gang Sawyer Hardwood Sawyer Head Packager Head Sawyer Heading Saw Operator Heading Up Machine Operator Headrig Sawyer Hewer Hoop Cutter Jigsaw Operator Jigsawyer Kerfer Machine Operator Knee Bolter Knife Setter Knot Cutter Knot Saw Operator Lather Lathmaker Log Chipper Log Cut Off Sawyer Log Cut-Off Sawyer Log Sawyer Lumber Planer Lumber Trimmer Lumber Yard Worker Machine Tank Operator Matcher Operator Matching Machine Operator Miller Mine Wedge Sawyer Miter Operator Miter Saw Operator Miter Sawyer Mitering Machine Operator Panel Saw Operator Planer Plug Saw Operator Pocket Cutter Pond Sawyer Pony Edger Pony Trimmer Portable Sawmill Operator Power Wood Sawyer Prop Cutter Prop Sawyer Radial Arm Saw Operator Radial Saw Operator Ratchet Setter Resaw Carriage Operator Resaw Operator Resawyer Resizer Operator Rip and Groove Machine Operator Rip Saw Operator Rip Sawyer Ripper Ripsaw Operator Saw Operator Saw Runner Sawmill Hand Sawmill Pony Edger Sawmill Worker Sawyer Shake Cutter Shake Maker Shake Sawyer Shake Splitter Shaping Machine Tender Shim Plug Cutter Shingle Cutter Shingle Sawyer Shingle Trimmer Side Sawyer Slasher Slasher Operator Splitter Stave and Bolt Equalizer Stave Bolt Equalizer Stave Cutter Stave Hewer Stave Log Cut-Off Saw Operator Stave Log Ripsaw Operator Stave Saw Operator Stile Ripsaw Operator Stock Cutter Stock Grader Stock Patch Sawyer Swing Saw Operator Tail Edger Tail Sawyer Tail Trimmer Tenon Machine Operator Tenoner Operator Tie Sawyer Timber Cutter Timber Trimmer Trim Saw Operator Trim Sawyer Trimmer Trimmer Machine Operator Trimmer Sawyer Trimming Machine Operator Turning Machine Operator Unisaw Operator Utility Operator Variety Saw Operator Veneer Clipper Veneer Cutter Veneer Sawyer Whip Sawyer Wood Cutter Wood Gang Sawyer Wood Sawyer Wood Type Cutter