Career:
Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finisher
Job Description: Shape molten glass according to patterns.
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What Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers do:
- Inspect, weigh, and measure products to verify conformance to specifications, using instruments such as micrometers, calipers, magnifiers, or rulers.
- Record manufacturing information, such as quantities, sizes, or types of goods produced.
- Determine types and quantities of glass required to fabricate products.
- Shape, bend, or join sections of glass, using paddles, pressing and flattening hand tools, or cork.
- Spray or swab molds with oil solutions to prevent adhesion of glass.
- Set up and adjust machine press stroke lengths and pressures and regulate oven temperatures, according to glass types to be processed.
- Heat glass to pliable stage, using gas flames or ovens and rotating glass to heat it uniformly.
- Blow tubing into specified shapes to prevent glass from collapsing, using compressed air or own breath, or blow and rotate gathers in molds or on boards to obtain final shapes.
- Design and create glass objects, using blowpipes and artisans' hand tools and equipment.
- Place glass into dies or molds of presses and control presses to form products, such as glassware components or optical blanks.
- Cut lengths of tubing to specified sizes, using files or cutting wheels.
- Operate and maintain finishing machines to grind, drill, sand, bevel, decorate, wash, or polish glass or glass products.
- Develop sketches of glass products into blueprint specifications, applying knowledge of glass technology and glass blowing.
- Dip ends of blowpipes into molten glass to collect gobs on pipe heads or cut gobs from molten glass, using shears.
- Place electrodes in tube ends and heat them with glass burners to fuse them into place.
- Repair broken scrolls by replacing them with new sections of tubing.
- Operate electric kilns that heat glass sheets and molds to the shape and curve of metal jigs.
- Place rubber hoses on ends of tubing and charge tubing with gas.
- Superimpose bent tubing on asbestos patterns to ensure accuracy.
- Strike necks of finished articles to separate articles from blowpipes.
What work activities does a Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finisher do?
| Importance | Activities | |
|---|---|---|
Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). |
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Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
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Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
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Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. |
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Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
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Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
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Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
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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. |
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Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
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Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. |
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Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
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Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
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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. |
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Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
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Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
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Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. |
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Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
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Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. |
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Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
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Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
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Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
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Provide Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics. |
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Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
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Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
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Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. |
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Interacting With Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
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Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money. |
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Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. |
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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. |
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