What is the work like?
As a wood machinist you would cut and prepare timber for builders’ merchants, DIY stores, and the furniture making and construction industries.
You would make a range of timber products, such as:
- floorboards and staircases
- door and window frames
- kitchen units and cabinets
- fencing and pallets.
Your work would involve:
- planning jobs following detailed technical drawings
- selecting the right type of wood for a particular product
- working out the amount of timber needed
- cutting and shaping timber, using tools like saws, planes and routers
- cleaning workshop tools and servicing equipment.
As well as hand tools, you could use computer-controlled equipment, and you may also be trained to use computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) methods as part of your work.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
Employers tend to want people with some on-site experience. If you have not worked in construction before, then you could look for work as a site labourer or timber yard worker to get some experience. Once working, your employer may be willing to offer you further training.
You could get into this work through an Apprenticeship scheme in wood machinery. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
Alternatively, you could take a college course, which would teach you some of the skills needed, though employers may still want to see some experience. Relevant courses include:
- City & Guilds Certificate for Basic Skills in Construction (6217)
- BTEC Introductory Certificate/Diploma in Construction
- Intermediate Construction Award in Wood Machining.
Check with local colleges for entry requirements.
For more information about working as a machinist in furniture manufacturing, see the Furniture, Furnishings and Interiors National Training Organisation (FFINTO) website.
Visit the Know Your Place website for information on the campaign to promote construction as a career choice for women.
What further training and development can I do?
Once working, you could take the NVQ in Woodmachining at levels 2 and 3 which covers:
- making sawn and planed products
- producing shaped, turned, jointed, sanded and bored items
- using CNC/NC machine tools
- machinery and equipment maintenance.
Contact Construction Skills for more information about work-based qualifications.
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Starting salaries range from £11,500 to £15,000 a year.
- With qualifications and experience, this can rise to between £18,500 and £22,000.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You could expect to work up to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Overtime and shiftwork is common.
You would spend most of your time working in a sawmill or workshop. The work could be physically demanding, and you would use protective clothing and equipment to reduce the effects of noise and dust.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good practical skills and some mechanical knowledge
- a good understanding of the properties of timber
- the ability to follow instructions and production schedules
- the ability to concentrate for long periods and pay close attention to detail
- a safety conscious approach to work
- the ability to work on your own and in a team
- good maths skills to make calculations and take measurements.
What opportunities are there?
You could find work with timber yards, sawmills, construction firms and furniture manufacturing companies.
Your promotion options include supervisory jobs and workshop or sawmill management. With experience, you could move into related work like bench joinery, shopfitting or kitchen and bathroom installation.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in a new window)
The Doorway
Timber Trade Federation (list of wood product manufacturers)
TTJ Online
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