Wood Machinist - Johannesburg

Requirements:

• • Some woodwork experience would also be helpful.
• • You may get in through a training scheme such as a Modern Apprenticeship which may lead to SVQs at SCQF Level 5 or 6.
• • You may start as a site laborer or timber yard assistant to gain experience.

Responsibilities:

• • using sawing machines, mortice machines, moulding machines, routers (which cut complex shapes), planes and drills
• • using computer numerically controlled (CNC) machinery
• • calculating how much wood you need and selecting the right kind
• • using computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacture (CAM) techniques
• • reading and understanding technical drawings
• • making jigs and templates for each task
• • cutting and shaping wood
• • treating wood with preservatives
• • cleaning and servicing machines and sharpening or replacing blades.
• • You may work indoors or outdoors in a sawmill or timber yard.
• • Workshops and factories are generally well ventilated with extractors to minimise the dust, but conditions may be still dusty and noisy.
• • You would wear protective clothing, goggles, ear protectors and a dust mask with filters.
• • The work can be physical, involving bending and stretching.
• • You would need to lift heavy pieces of wood (although robotic equipment lifts the heaviest pieces).
• • Equipment may be hazardous including sharp blades and dangerous machines (which must have safety guards).
• • You would generally work 40 hours Monday to Friday, but overtime and weekend work may be required.