Furniture Finishers
Shape, finish, and refinish damaged, worn, or used furniture or new high-grade furniture to specified color or finish.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Confer with customers to determine furniture colors or finishes.
- Fill and smooth cracks or depressions, remove marks and imperfections, and repair broken parts, using plastic or wood putty, glue, nails, or screws.
- Brush, spray, or hand-rub finishing ingredients, such as paint, oil, stain, or wax, onto and into wood grain and apply lacquer or other sealers.
- Smooth, shape, and touch up surfaces to prepare them for finishing, using sandpaper, pumice stones, steel wool, chisels, sanders, or grinders.
- Remove accessories prior to finishing, and mask areas that should not be exposed to finishing processes or substances.
- Remove old finishes and damaged or deteriorated parts, using hand tools, stripping tools, sandpaper, steel wool, abrasives, solvents, or dip baths.
- Recommend woods, colors, finishes, and furniture styles, using knowledge of wood products, fashions, and styles.
- Treat warped or stained surfaces to restore original contours and colors.
- Select appropriate finishing ingredients such as paint, stain, lacquer, shellac, or varnish, depending on factors such as wood hardness and surface type.
- Mix finish ingredients to obtain desired colors or shades.
- Wash surfaces to prepare them for finish application.
- Follow blueprints to produce specific designs.
- Remove excess solvent, using cloths soaked in paint thinner.
- Paint metal surfaces electrostatically, or by using a spray gun or other painting equipment.
- Examine furniture to determine the extent of damage or deterioration, and to decide on the best method for repair or restoration.
- Distress surfaces with woodworking tools or abrasives before staining to create an antique appearance, or rub surfaces to bring out highlights and shadings.
- Stencil, gild, emboss, mark, or paint designs or borders to reproduce the original appearance of restored pieces, or to decorate new pieces.
- Disassemble items to prepare them for finishing, using hand tools.
- Replace or refurbish upholstery of items, using tacks, adhesives, softeners, solvents, stains, or polish.
- Spread graining ink over metal portions of furniture to simulate wood-grain finish.
- Design, create, and decorate entire pieces or specific parts of furniture, such as draws for cabinets.
- Brush bleaching agents on wood surfaces to restore natural color.
Skills
Knowledge
Build a Resume for Furniture Finishers
Create a professional, ATS-optimized resume tailored to this career path.
Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
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?
98%
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?
96%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
92%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
91%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
81%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
75%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
72%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
71%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
71%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
70%
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?
69%
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%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
66%
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?
65%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
65%
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?
64%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
63%
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)?
62%
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?
58%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
57%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
56%
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?
55%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
54%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
51%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
46%
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?
41%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
37%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
36%
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?
35%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
34%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
34%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
33%
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?
33%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
28%
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?
27%
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.)
27%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
24%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
19%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
19%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
19%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
16%
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)?
13%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
13%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
13%
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?
11%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
10%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
9%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
8%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
8%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
7%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
6%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
5%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
5%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
5%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
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)?
2%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
0%
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Less than high school diploma
Post-secondary certificate
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
Ready to pursue a career as Furniture Finishers?
Create a professional resume that highlights the right skills and experience for this role.
Build Your Resume Now