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Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing

Career Overview

Career Description: Cut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns.

Industry: Production

Other Job Titles for Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing:

  • Jewelers
  • Etchers and Engravers
  • Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
  • Power Plant Operators
  • Gas Plant Operators
  • Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • Precious Metal Workers
  • Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Personality Profile

  • Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
  • Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
  • Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
  • Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
  • Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
  • First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
  • Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
  • Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

Common Work Tasks

  • Carve designs and figures in full and bas relief on stone, employing knowledge of stone carving techniques and sense of artistry to produce carvings consistent with designers' plans.
  • Verify depths and dimensions of cuts or carvings to ensure adherence to specifications, blueprints, or models, using measuring instruments.
  • Lay out designs or dimensions from sketches or blueprints on stone surfaces, by freehand or by transferring them from tracing paper, using scribes or chalk and measuring instruments.
  • Study artistic objects or graphic materials such as models, sketches, or blueprints, in order to plan carving or cutting techniques.
  • Drill holes and cut or carve moldings and grooves in stone, according to diagrams and patterns.
  • Shape, trim, or touch up roughed-out designs with appropriate tools in order to finish carvings.
  • Select chisels, pneumatic or surfacing tools, or sandblasting nozzles, and determine sequence of use.
  • Move fingers over surfaces of carvings to ensure smoothness of finish.
  • Carve rough designs freehand or by chipping along marks on stone, using mallets and chisels or pneumatic tools.
  • Guide nozzles over stone following stencil outlines, or chip along marks to create designs or to work surfaces down to specified finishes.
  • Cut, shape, and finish rough blocks of building or monumental stone, according to diagrams or patterns.
  • Smooth surfaces of carvings, using rubbing stones.
  • Remove or add stencils during blasting to create differing cut depths, intricate designs, or rough, pitted finishes.
  • Copy drawings on rough clay or plaster models.
  • Load sandblasting equipment with abrasives, attach nozzles to hoses, and turn valves to admit compressed air and activate jets.
  • Dress stone surfaces, using bushhammers.
  • Install burners and auxiliary equipment, using hand tools.
  • Contact equipment manufacturers or appropriate specialists when necessary to resolve equipment problems.
  • Test electrical systems to determine voltages, using voltage meters.
  • Provide assistance to plumbers in repairing or replacing water, sewer, or waste lines, and in daily maintenance activities.
  • Supervise the work of assistant stationary engineers, turbine operators, boiler tenders, or air conditioning and refrigeration operators and mechanics.
  • Receive instructions from steam engineers regarding steam plant and air compressor operations.
  • Ignite fuel in burners, using torches or flames.
  • Investigate and report on accidents.
  • Operate mechanical hoppers and provide assistance in their adjustment and repair.
  • Prepare inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers' feet.
  • Re-sew seams, and replace handles and linings of suitcases or handbags.
  • Maintain records of goods produced, supplies used, production costs, and machine maintenance and repair activities.
  • Attach cloth to take-up rollers, placing it in feeding position and threading it through equipment as necessary.
  • Requisition supplies, materials, and equipment and receive stock.
  • Pack and label cartons, boxes, or bins of finished products.
  • Provide assistance in the design and layout of forms and materials to be printed.
  • Place spools of thread or wire on holders, and thread through machines.
  • Apply glue or tape to holes in screens to repair leaks.
  • Clean workpieces, using wire brushes.
  • Install gears and holding devices on conveyor equipment.
  • Operate sandblasting equipment to roughen and clean surfaces of workpieces.
  • Cut metal or other materials, using shears or band saws.
  • Charge furnaces.
  • Chase decorative designs on silver blanks that are to be used as models for steel production dies.

Emerging Tasks

  • Inspect finished products to ensure that shoes have been completed according to specifications.
  • Perform "preflight" check of required font, graphic, text and image files to ensure completeness prior to delivery to printer.
  • Proofread and perform quality control of text and images.
  • Mix and apply glazes to pottery pieces using tools such as spray guns.
  • Operate gas or electric kilns to fire pottery pieces.
  • Pack and ship pottery to stores or galleries for retail.

Work Activities

  • Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
  • Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
  • Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
  • Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
  • Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  • Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
  • Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
  • Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

  • create art from ideas
  • cut or shape stone, tile, brick, or related material
  • examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
  • fabricate craft or art objects
  • fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
  • hand carve objects from stone or other materials
  • lay out machining, welding or precision assembly projects
  • make independent judgment in assembly procedures
  • measure, weigh, or count products or materials
  • operate sandblasting equipment
  • plan or organize work
  • read blueprints
  • read technical drawings
  • use creativity in industrial artistry
  • use hand or power tools
  • use pneumatic tools
  • use precision measuring tools or equipment
  • tend boilers or related equipment
  • test manufactured products or materials
  • use acetylene welding/cutting torch
  • use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
  • use hand or power tools
  • use pneumatic tools
  • weld together metal parts, components, or structures
  • use hand or power tools
  • use soldering equipment
  • use hand or power tools
  • use precision measuring tools or equipment
  • use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
  • use hand or power tools
  • use precision measuring tools or equipment
  • use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
  • use x-ray or magnetic inspection techniques
  • process photographic prints
  • read production layouts
  • read specifications
  • read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
  • receive customer orders
  • restore photographs
  • retouch negatives or prints
  • set page layout or composition
  • set up production equipment or machinery
  • strip negatives
  • understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
  • use color analyzer
  • use densitometer
  • use desktop publishing software
  • use hand or power tools
  • use precision measuring tools or equipment
  • record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
  • sort manufacturing materials or products
  • test manufactured products or materials
  • understand engineering data or reports
  • understand measuring devices
  • understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
  • use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
  • use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
  • use hand or power tools
  • use hazardous materials information
  • use interpersonal communication techniques
  • use knowledge of investigation techniques
  • use knowledge of metric system
  • use long or short term production planning techniques
  • use oral or written communication techniques
  • use precision measuring tools or equipment
  • use quality assurance techniques
  • use research methodology procedures within manufacturing or commerce
  • use spreadsheet software
  • use technical information in manufacturing or industrial activities
  • use x-ray or magnetic inspection techniques

Tools & Technology Used on the Job

  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Amp meters
  • Bench lathes
  • Boom trucks
  • Bourdon tubes
  • Building management system software
  • Claw hammers
  • Colorimeters
  • Combustion analyzers
  • Computerized maintenance management system CMMS software
  • Conductivity meters
  • Data entry software
  • Database software
  • Descalers
  • Dial calipers
  • Dial indicators
  • Dies
  • Digital multimeters
  • Drill presses
  • Dropping pipettes
  • Electric drain augers
  • Electric welding equipment
  • Electronic remote reading thermometers
  • Electronic temperature sensors
  • Email software
  • Equipment cleaning scrapers
  • Filter masks
  • Forklifts
  • Gas brazing equipment
  • Graduated glass cylinders
  • Graphics software
  • Grapple cranes
  • Grease guns
  • Hand pipe threaders
  • Hydraulic press frames
  • Hydrometers
  • Industrial platform scales
  • Infrared guns
  • Ladders
  • Layout squares
  • Locking pliers
  • Manifold test gauges
  • Micrometers
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Ohmmeters
  • Oil guns
  • Opacity meters
  • Oxyacetylene welding equipment
  • Personal computers
  • pH indicators
  • Phillips screwdrivers
  • Pipe cutters
  • Pipe wrenches
  • Pneumatic pumps
  • Power drills
  • Power meters
  • Power saws
  • Precision levels
  • Pressure gauges
  • Pressure transmitters
  • Programmable logic controllers PLC
  • Protective ear plugs
  • Ratchets
  • Rotary hammers
  • Safety glasses
  • Safety gloves
  • Sandblasters
  • Scaffolding
  • Self-contained breathing apparatus
  • Sling psychrometers
  • Socket sets
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Statistical analysis software
  • Steam cleaning equipment
  • Straight screwdrivers
  • Tapping machines
  • Taps
  • Thermocouples
  • Turbidity testers
  • Two way radios
  • Voltmeters
  • Water column gauges
  • Web browser software
  • Word processing software
  • Knee mills
  • Ladders
  • Laser printers
  • Lathes
  • Machine shop rigging equipment
  • Machinists' hammers
  • Machinists' squares
  • Magnetic retrievers
  • Marking blocks
  • Metal inert gas MIG welders
  • Metal shears
  • Metal spray equipment
  • Micrometers
  • Microscopes
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Word
  • Milling angle form cutters
  • Milling machines
  • Milling vises
  • Multi-axis computerized numerical control CNC machines
  • Needlenose pliers
  • Outside micrometers
  • Outside spring calipers
  • Oxyacetylene welding equipment
  • Parallel blocks
  • Personal computers
  • Personal digital assistants PDA
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Pillar drill machines
  • Pin presses
  • Pipe threaders
  • Pipe wrenches
  • Planer gauges
  • Planers
  • Plasma welders
  • Platforms
  • Power drills
  • Power hacksaws
  • Prick punches
  • Pro CNC software
  • Pry bars
  • Punches
  • Putty knives
  • Radial drill presses
  • Radial drills
  • Radius gauges
  • Ratchet sets
  • Reamers
  • Resurfacing machines
  • Ring gauges
  • Rubber mallets
  • Sandblasters
  • Sanders
  • Screw pitch gauges
  • Screwdrivers
  • Scribers
  • Sensitive drill presses
  • Shapers
  • Sharpeners
  • Shears
  • Shims
  • Side cutting pliers
  • Sine bars
  • Sledgehammers
  • Socket sets
  • Soldering equipment
  • Spindle blade screwdrivers
  • Spirit levels
  • Square chisels
  • Staging equipment
  • Steel rules
  • Steel wedges
  • Surface gauges
  • Surface grinders
  • Swaging equipment
  • Taps
  • Telescoping gauges
  • Thread gauges
  • Threading machines
  • Tongs
  • Torches
  • Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment
  • Turning lathes
  • Turret lathes
  • Undercut tools
  • Utility knives
  • V blocks
  • Valve grinding machines
  • Vernier bevel protractors
  • Vernier gear tooth calipers
  • Vernier height gauges
  • Verniers
  • Vertical milling machines
  • Wedges
  • Welding equipment
  • Welding lenses
  • Welding shields
  • Wrenches

Education, Training & Experience

Overall Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a teller might benefit from experience working directly with the public, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be a teller with little difficulty.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.

Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.

Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include sheet metal workers, forest fire fighters, customer service representatives, pharmacy technicians, salespersons (retail), and tellers.

Salary & Wages

  • n/a

Projected Employment Growth

  • Projected growth (2006-2016): 1.29%
  • Projected need (2006-2016): 719
  • Employment (2006): 55,928

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