Industrial Painters, Coaters, and Metal Finishing Process Operators

Nature of work

Industrial painters and coaters operate and tend machines or use brushes and spray equipment to apply paint, enamel, lacquer or other non-metallic protective and decorative coatings to surfaces of various products. Metal finishing process operators operate machines or equipment to deposit metallized substances on workpieces and surfaces to provide decorative, protective and restorative coatings. These workers are employed by manufacturing companies and custom refinishing, coating and plating shops.

Job duties

Industrial painters and coaters perform some or all of the following duties:

• Select appropriate paint or mix paints using automated paint mixing equipment according to a pre-determined formula.
• Operate or tend equipment to clean, wash, strip, sand, remove corrosion, fill dents, or otherwise prepare items for application of paint, lacquer or other protective or decorative coatings.
• Operate or tend automated spray paint, dip or flow coating equipment or other mechanized painting or product coating application equipment.
• Operate hand-held spray guns to spray paint or coat stationary items or items on moving conveyor system with protective or decorative coatings.
• Paint small items and apply touch-ups using paint brushes.
• Clean and maintain painting and coating, ventilation, compressed air and personal protective equipment.
• May prepare and apply stencils, computer-generated decals or other decorative items on finished products.

Metal finishing process operators perform some or all of the following duties:

• Prepare and mix metallizing solutions according to formulas or specifications.
• Operate or tend equipment to clean, degrease, pickle and etch metal and non-metal surfaces to prepare workpieces with desired surface characteristics.
• Tend automatic metal coating machines which convey objects through a series of cleaning, rinsing and plating solutions.
• Operate and control electroplating equipment to coat metal and other workpieces.
• Operate hot-dip metal plating equipment to galvanize metal and other workpieces.
• Operate spray equipment to build up worn or damaged parts or to bond protective or decorative coatings on various objects.
• Check proper thickness of plating using micrometers, calipers or other devices.
• May operate equipment to polish metallic surfaces of products.
• May tend ovens which cure metal coating.

Sample job titles

• airbrush painter
• assembly line painter
• decal applier
• industrial painter
• production painter
• sign letterer
• spray painter
• undercoater - motor vehicle manufacturing

Skills

These jobs require mechanical aptitude and physical fitness. Good spatial perception, form perception, and hand-eye coordination are important. You must be accurate and attentive to detail. Some high school education may be required. Completion of college or other courses may be required. On the job training is usually provided. Experience as an assembler may be required for inspectors.

Job requirements

• Some high school education is usually required.
• Several months of on-the-job training are usually provided.
• Some industrial painters, such as aviation painters, may require specialized training and certification or college courses.

Other considerations

Some experience in operating production machinery or equipment may be required. Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

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