Profession furniture finisher

Furniture finishers treat the surface of wood furniture using hand and power tools to sand, clean and polish. They apply wood coatings onto wooden surfaces by using different techniques such as brushing or using a spray gun. They choose and apply the right coatings with protective and/or decorative purposes.

Would you like to know what kind of career and professions suit you best? Take our free Holland code career test and find out.

Personality Type

  • Realistic / Artistic

Knowledge

  • Types of paint

    Varieties of paint and chemicals used in their composition.

  • Sanding techniques

    The various sanding techniques (such as gang sanding), as well as the different sanding papers necessary for which surface.

Skills

  • Apply colour coats

    Spray colour coats onto vehicle parts, operate painting equipment and leave freshly sprayed vehicles to dry in a temperature-controlled and dust-proof environment.

  • Clean painting equipment

    Disassemble, clean, and reassemble paint sprayers and other vehicle painting equipment.

  • Handle chemical cleaning agents

    Ensure proper handling, storage and disposal of cleaning chemicals in accordance with regulations.

  • Mix paint

    Thoroughly mix different types of paint manually or mechanically. Start from basic paints or from powder and mix in water or chemicals. Check the consistency of the resulting mixture.

  • Apply wood finishes

    Use a variety of techniques to finish wood. Paint, varnish and stain wood to improve its function, durability, or appearance.

  • Apply health and safety standards

    Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.

  • Fix minor scratches

    Fix minor dents and scratches on the surface with touch-up paint or scratch remover.

  • Prepare furniture for application of paint

    Set up furniture for standard or custom paint job, protect any parts that should not be painted and prepare painting equipment.

  • Clean wood surface

    Use a variety of techniques on a wood surface to ensure it is free of dust, sawdust, grease, stains, and other contaminants.

  • Check paint consistency

    Before application of the paint, check paint viscosity by using viscosity meter.

  • Apply a protective layer

    Apply a layer of protective solutions such as permethrine to protect the product from damage such as corrosion, fire or parasites, using a spray gun or paintbrush.

  • Sand wood

    Use sanding machines or hand tools to remove paint or other substances from the surface of the wood, or to smoothen and finish the wood.

  • Create smooth wood surface

    Shave, plane and sand wood manually or automatically to produce a smooth surface.

  • Stain wood

    Mix ingredients to create a stain and apply a layer to the furniture to give it a specific colour and finish.

Optional knowledge and skills

organic building materials engrave patterns use paint safety equipment furniture industry use heat gun clean furniture fibreglass laminating paint decorative designs sell furniture carve materials conservation techniques repair furniture parts furniture trends estimate restoration costs paint spraying techniques sell household goods apply restoration techniques decorate furniture artificially age furniture evaluate restoration procedures repair laminated structures handle delivery of furniture goods pass on trade techniques identify customer's needs remove paint woodturning paint with a paint gun operate engraving equipment plastic resins