Cutters and Trimmers, Hand

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

• Mark or discard items with defects such as spots, stains, scars, snags, chips, scratches, or unacceptable shapes or finishes.
• Trim excess material or cut threads off finished products, such as cutting loose ends of plastic off a manufactured toy for a smoother finish.
• Cut, shape, and trim materials, such as textiles, food, glass, stone, and metal, using knives, scissors, and other hand tools, portable power tools, or bench-mounted tools.
• Position templates or measure materials to locate specified points of cuts or to obtain maximum yields, using rules, scales, or patterns.
• Read work orders to determine dimensions, cutting locations, and quantities to cut.
• Mark cutting lines around patterns or templates, or follow layout points, using squares, rules, and straightedges, and chalk, pencils, or scribes.
• Mark identification numbers, trademarks, grades, marketing data, sizes, or model numbers on products.
• Unroll, lay out, attach, or mount materials or items on cutting tables or machines.
• Separate materials or products according to size, weight, type, condition, color, or shade.
• Fold or shape materials before or after cutting them.
• Replace or sharpen dulled cutting tools such as saws.
• Lower table-mounted cutters such as knife blades, cutting wheels, or saws to cut items to specified sizes.