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Wood Patternmaker

What You Need to Know About Wood Patternmaker

Position Description Plan, lay out, and construct wooden unit or sectional patterns used in forming sand molds for castings.

Life As a Wood Patternmaker: What Do They Do?

  • Finish completed products or models with shellac, lacquer, wax, or paint.
  • Inventory equipment and supplies, ordering parts and tools as necessary.
  • Lay out patterns on wood stock and draw outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products, based on blueprint specifications and sketches, and using marking and measuring devices.
  • Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
  • Repair broken or damaged patterns.
  • Correct patterns to compensate for defects in castings.

What Every Wood Patternmaker Should Know

Below is a list of the skills most Wood Patternmakers say are important on the job.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Operations Analysis: Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Other Wood Patternmaker Job Titles

  • Model Maker
  • Journeyman Patternmaker
  • Wood Experimental Mechanic
  • Patternmaker
  • Wood Patternmaker

What Kind of Wood Patternmaker Job Opportunities Are There?

In the United States, there were 1,800 jobs for Wood Patternmaker in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Wood Patternmaker. The BLS estimates 200 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Wood Patternmaker are North Carolina, Michigan, and Nebraska. Watch out if you plan on working in Pennsylvania, Nebraska, or Michigan. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Wood Patternmaker Salary

Wood Patternmakers make between $34,930 and $82,630 a year.

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Wood Patternmakers who work in Ohio, Michigan, or North Carolina, make the highest salaries.

How much do Wood Patternmakers make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
California $56,990
Michigan $68,910
North Carolina $53,910
Ohio $73,670

What Tools & Technology do Wood Patternmakers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Wood Patternmakers may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Computer aided design CAD software
  • Delcam PowerMILL
  • Mastercam

Becoming a Wood Patternmaker

What education is needed to be a Wood Patternmaker?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Wood Patternmaker?

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References:

Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Sadie Colbert via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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