Furniture Finishers

Career summary

#no matching wois occupation, checked 2/19/15 lh

Furniture finishers work on both new and old furniture. When working with old furniture, they examine it to determine if there is damage. They take the furniture apart and mask areas that they want to protect. On older pieces, finishers may treat warped surfaces to restore their original shape. They may also bleach surfaces to lighten them or wash off dust. They fix damaged veneers or replace missing parts. Furniture finishers attend to details to ensure old parts match new parts.

Furniture finishers prepare surfaces for finish. They smooth or shape surfaces using sandpaper, pumice stone, or chisels. They may remove old finish by scraping or using chemicals. They fill cracks with wood putty and repair broken parts using glue or nails. They polish or wax restored areas to match the surrounding finish.

Once the surfaces are prepared, furniture finishers select the finishing products. They choose paints, stains, and lacquers to finish wood surfaces. Finishers brush, spray, or apply hand-rubbed finishes to the wood. They may apply graining ink to make metal pieces of furniture look like they have a wood finish.

Furniture finishers also replace or treat old upholstery or leather. They may add stencils or gold trim, and paint designs to reproduce the furniture's original appearance. To make new furniture look like antiques, finishers distress surfaces with abrasives before staining.

Related careers

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Cabinetmakers
• Floor Sanding Machine Operators
• Painters
• Painting and Coating Machine Operators
• Sawing Machine Operators
• Textile Machine Operators
• Upholsterers
• Vehicle Cleaners
• Vehicle Painters
• Woodworking Machine Operators

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to furniture finishers.

• Examine furniture to find the amount of damage. Decide on the best way to repair or restore it.
• Take items apart and cover areas that will not be changed. Remove handles or other accessories.
• Smooth and shape surfaces with sandpaper, pumice stone, steel wool, or chisel.
• Wash or bleach surfaces to lighten them and prepare for new finish.
• Fill cracks and depressions. Repair broken parts.
• Select the best finishing ingredients, such as shellac or varnish for wood surfaces.
• Mix finish ingredients to get desired color.
• Brush, spray, or hand-rub finishing products onto and into grain of wood.
• Polish, spray, or wax finished pieces to match current finish.
• Replace or clean upholstery.
• Distress surfaces of new furniture with abrasives before staining to make them look antique.
• Stencil, gild, emboss, or paint designs or borders on restored pieces to make them look new.
• Apply graining ink over metal portions of furniture to make them look like wood.
• May follow blueprints to produce specific designs.
• Make recommendations to clients.

Common work activities

Furniture finishers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Get information needed to do the job
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Handle and move objects
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Think creatively
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Evaluate information against standards
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Teach others
• Process information
• Coordinate the work and activities of others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, furniture finishers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a medium level of contact with others. When they talk to others, it's usually face-to-face.
• Sometimes work as part of a team.
• Are somewhat responsible for the health and safety of others.
• Are responsible for the work done by other finishers and assistants.

Physical work conditions

• Always work indoors.
• Are sometimes exposed to contaminants such as chemical strippers.
• Wear safety goggles, masks, gloves, or other specialized equipment on a daily basis.
• Are exposed to loud or distracting sounds and noise levels on a daily basis.
• Are regularly exposed to hazardous conditions and equipment.
• Sometimes must get into awkward positions to reach cramped work places.
• Occasionally are exposed to hazardous situations that may cause cuts or minor burns.
• May work physically near other workers.

Work performance

• Must be exact in their work and be sure all details are done. Errors could damage furniture and cause the company to lose money.
• Sometimes must match the pace of work with the speed of machinery.
• Set their daily tasks and goals with some input from clients and supervisors.
• Must meet strict daily deadlines.

Hours/travel

• Work 35 to 40 hours per week. Those who are self-employed may work longer hours, once they have built a client list.

Physical demands

Furniture finishers frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Stand for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Walk or run for long periods of time.
• Bend or twist their body.

It is important for furniture finishers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Understand the speech of another person.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for furniture finishers to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.

Skills and abilities

Furniture finishers need to:

Communicate

• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Understand written information.

Reason and problem solve

• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with things

• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.

Perceive and visualize

• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study to consider

• Apprenticeship Programs
• Woodworking and Cabinetmaking

Training

To work as a furniture finisher, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• complete short-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

Some furniture finishers take programs in woodworking. Professional-technical and two-year colleges offer these programs.

On-the-job training

Most furniture finishers learn their skills informally on the job. During on-the-job training, you learn how to:

• set up and clear equipment;
• read blueprints;
• apply finish products to furniture; and
• operate machines.

Training generally lasts up to one month.

Washington apprenticeships

In Washington, training for this occupation can be found in carpentry apprenticeship programs. Carpentry apprenticeship applicants must meet the requirements of their joint apprenticeship training committee. Requirements may include some or all of the following:

• be at least 18 years of age;
• able to handle the physical demands of the trade;
• adequate education to meet trade requirements;
• access to transportation to the job site;
• completion of a safety/orientation class;
• have required hand tools;
• proof of residency in apprenticeship region; and
• may need to pass a qualifying entry exam.

For further information on apprenticeships in Washington, contact:

Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
Apprenticeship Program 
PO Box 44530
Olympia, WA 98504-4530
360.902.5320

#2/26/19

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements . You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Equipment Maintenance and Repair
• Industrial Arts
• Woodworking

Many furniture finishers are self-employed. If you want to run your own business some day, you should consider taking these courses as well:

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• Introduction to Business

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Most employers prefer applicants who have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Employers may prefer applicants who have some experience in construction or carpentry.

Employers look for applicants who have good attention to details and the ability to work independently. They also prefer applicants who can follow directions.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Furniture Finishers 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by the furniture finisher's skills, education, and level of experience. Wages also vary by employer and location. Employers in bigger cities tend to pay more than those in smaller towns.

Many full-time furniture finishers receive benefits. Typical benefits include paid vacation, sick leave, and health insurance. Those who are self-employed must provide their own insurance.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

About 18% of furniture finishers are self-employed.

Furniture manufacturers are located throughout the nation. Some of the largest manufacturers are in North Carolina, Michigan, and Mississippi. Smaller companies that make furniture by request tend to be in larger cities, where there are more people to buy their products.

Major employers:

• Household furniture manufacturers
• Kitchen cabinet manufacturers
• Furniture repair shops
• Office furniture manufacturers
• Furniture stores

National outlook

Demand is expected to show little to no change for this occupation. Competition is strong from imported furniture products, however, there is good demand for domestic wood furniture. Job prospects are best for furniture finishers who can maintain newer equipment.

Some job opportunities will arise as furniture finishers retire or leave this occupation for other reasons. This is a very small occupation and very few new jobs will be available.

Other resources

Washington Business Week 
PO Box 1170
Renton, WA 98057
253.237.3545

Woodworker's Central 

References

Career cluster

• Manufacturing

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupation

• Furniture Finishers (51-7021.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupations

• Caner II (763.684-022) 
• Finish Patcher (763.684-034) 
• Frame Repairer (763.681-010) 
• Furniture Finisher (763.381-010) 
• Furniture Restorer (763.380-010) 
• Furniture-finisher Apprentice (763.381-014) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Realistic/Artistic/Conventional

COPSystem

• Technology Skilled