Wood Patternmakers

Key Responsibilities

• Compute dimensions, areas, volumes, and weights.
• Mark identifying information such as colors or codes on patterns, parts, and templates to indicate assembly methods.
• Maintain pattern records for reference.
• Correct patterns to compensate for defects in castings.
• Glue fillets along interior angles of patterns.
• Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, and screws.
• Issue patterns to designated machine operators.
• Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.
• Inventory equipment and supplies, ordering parts and tools as necessary.
• Finish completed products or models with shellac, lacquer, wax, or paint.
• Lay out patterns on wood stock and draw outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products, based on blueprint specifications and sketches, and using marking and measuring devices.
• Divide patterns into sections according to shapes of castings to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.
• Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
• Estimate costs for patternmaking jobs.
• Verify dimensions of completed patterns, using templates, straightedges, calipers, or protractors.
• Set up, operate, and adjust a variety of woodworking machines such as bandsaws and lathes to cut and shape sections, parts, and patterns, according to specifications.
• Repair broken or damaged patterns.
• Collect and store patterns and lumber.
• Select lumber to be used for patterns.
• Construct wooden models, templates, full scale mock-ups, jigs, or molds for shaping parts of products.