Etchers & Engravers
Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses.
- Engrave and print patterns, designs, etchings, trademarks, or lettering onto flat or curved surfaces of a wide variety of metal, glass, plastic, or paper items, using hand tools or hand-held power tools.
- Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration.
- Prepare workpieces for etching or engraving by cutting, sanding, cleaning, polishing, or treating them with wax, acid resist, lime, etching powder, or light-sensitive enamel.
- Use computer software to design patterns for engraving.
- Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces.
- Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges.
- Expose workpieces to acid to develop etch patterns such as designs, lettering, or figures.
- Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.
- Neutralize workpieces to remove acid, wax, or enamel, using water, solvents, brushes, or specialized machines.
- Examine engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving.
- Transfer image to workpiece, using contact printer, pantograph stylus, silkscreen printing device, or stamp pad.
- Set reduction scales to attain specified sizes of reproduction on workpieces, and set pantograph controls for required heights, depths, and widths of cuts.
- Remove wax or tape from etched glassware by using a stylus or knife, or by immersing ware in hot water.
- Start machines and lower cutting tools to beginning points on patterns.
- Guide stylus over template, causing cutting tool to duplicate design or letters on workpiece.
- Position and clamp workpieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures.
- Print proofs or examine designs to verify accuracy of engraving, and rework engraving as required.
- Determine machine settings, and move bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates.
- Remove completed workpieces and place them in trays.
- Clean and polish engraved areas.
- Insert cutting tools or bits into machines and secure them with wrenches.
- Sandblast exposed areas of glass to cut designs in surfaces, using spray guns.
- Sketch, trace, or scribe layout lines and designs on workpieces, plates, dies, or rollers, using compasses, scribers, gravers, or pencils.
- Fill etched characters with opaque paste to improve readability.
- Brush or wipe acid over engraving to darken or highlight inscriptions.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
98%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
86%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
85%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
85%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
81%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
81%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
80%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
77%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
74%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
67%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
66%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
60%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
60%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
59%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
59%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
58%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
54%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
54%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
51%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
51%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
50%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
49%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
49%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
48%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
46%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
45%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
45%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
44%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
44%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
42%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
41%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
40%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
39%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
33%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
32%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
31%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
30%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
30%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
29%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
28%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
25%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
25%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
22%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
20%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
17%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
15%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
10%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
8%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
8%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
6%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
5%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
5%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
4%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
4%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
2%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
1%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
0%
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Less than high school diploma
Associate's degree
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Work Styles
Work Values
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