What Does a Metal Finisher Do? (Salary, Job Description & More)

A metal finisher uses hand and power equipment to remove dents, scratches, and other flaws from metal surfaces.

As a metal finisher, your responsibilities include polishing and coating metal, etching decorative elements, grinding, sanding, and filling uneven areas.

This article will explain a metal finisher’s duties, obligations, and salary.

Let’s get right into it.

Table of Contents

What Does a Metal Finisher Do?

Metal finishers handle the final phases of metal fabrication. They use some chemicals and procedures to purify raw metals, remove impurities, or change their physical qualities.

Metal finishers deal with a wide variety of metals, including non-precious metals like copper, steel, and aluminum, as well as valuable metals like gold and silver.

Metal Finisher Job Duties

A Metal finisher is responsible for a variety of tasks, such as:

Applying protective coatings to surfaces made of metals used to stop corrosion or rust, such as zinc or cadmium
Before being completed, pieces are examined to make sure they are free of flaws or damage
Metals are polished, buffed, and sanded to provide a smooth surface finish.
Placing metal components in mechanical devices like engines or gearboxes
Using wire brushes or grinders, remove painted, rusted, or other surface impurities from metal parts
Using small components and instruments like drills, hammers, and grinders to shape metal surfaces or create new pieces
Machining metal components according to requirements, such as drilling or cutting holes in surfaces or portions
Employing cutting instruments like saws and shears to measure and cut metal pieces to requirements
Putting protective coatings on metal surfaces to stop rust or corrosion

Metal Finisher Salary

According to many salary aggregation websites, a metal finisher’s annual pay in the US is between $32,221 and $56,569, with an average of $41,362.

The typical salary for metal finishers in the US ranges from $32,221 to $56,569, based on their experience, location, talents, and other criteria.

Metal Finisher Job Requirements

Below outlined are the possible requirement for a metal finisher job.

Education

The majority of metal finishers require a high school diploma or GED.

Some employers may want you to have an associate’s degree in metal finishing or a similar field.

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Training & Experience

Metal finishers frequently learn on the job from their supervisors or other knowledgeable workers.

Certifications & Licenses

Some companies say that metal finishers may need to take an industry-specific certification exam to show that they know the basics of their job.

Metal Finisher Skills

Metal finishers require the following skills to be successful:

Welding

Metal finishers frequently work with metal components that need to be linked to other pieces, so they often need this skill.

Machining

Coatings are frequently applied to metal items by metal finishers via machining.

Inspection

They may also use inspection skills to check the quality of the resources they get to ensure they are the right kind.

Metalworking

Metalworkers use their mechanical aptitude to run presses, mills, and lathes.

Metal Finisher Work Environment

Metal finishers operate in manufacturing facilities, machine shops, and other industrial locations.

They must wear protective clothing, such as gloves, masks, and earplugs, because they might be exposed to noise, gases, and other dangerous chemicals.

Many metal finishers work full-time, and some put in extra hours, mainly when tight deadlines are tight. Some metal finishers work nights or on the weekends.

How to Become a Metal Finisher

Being a metal finisher can be a rewarding and successful job. Before starting, learning the fundamentals of metal finishing, such as how to operate various polishing machines and abrasives, is crucial.

Additionally, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the multiple metals employed in manufacturing and how they respond to different finishes.

It’s time to put your skills to use once you have a basic understanding of metal finishing.

Look for a business specializing in metal finishing, then offer labour for nothing or at a discounted fee.

You will have the chance to learn from seasoned experts and fill your portfolio with stellar work samples.

Conclusion

Most metal finishers begin their careers as assistants or apprentices, learning the trade while assisting more seasoned finishers.

They might be promoted to journeyman metal finishers as they gain experience and eventually become managers or supervisors.