Saw Filer/Fitters repair, set, and sharpen blades for band, chain, hand, circular, and other types of saws.
Job Related Skills, Interests and Values
- Maintain wood sawing machines in lumber and paper mills
- File grooved, contoured, and irregular surfaces of knives, saw blades, and metal objects
- Safely use hand tools, filing machines, and welding equipment; may also use computers, sophisticated electronic equipment, and lasers
- Troubleshoot sawing machinery and analyze faults for corrective and/or repair action
What Preparation and Training Do You Need?
- Secondary school diploma with math, English, and science credits; training in welding, electronics, carpentry, or metalworking would be an asset
- While not mandatory, completion of a 6,000-8,000 hour apprenticeship, including a combination of on-the-job and in-school training, is recommended
What's Your Future as a Saw Filer/Fitter (611B)?
- 40 hours per week, indoors in saw or pulp mills
- May be required to live/work in remote areas where mills are located
- Often required to do heavy lifting; exposure to high noise levels
- Employers include saw mills and pulp mills
Wage Rate
Apprentice wage increases with skill and experience. Fully qualified workers earn an average of $25.63-$43.50 per hour.
Self-Rating
Saw Filer/Fitter (611B)
| Ask Yourself: | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Do you have good manual dexterity? | ||
| Do you pay attention to detail? | ||
| Are you able to follow Health & Safety guidelines? | ||
| Are you able to lift 50lbs comfortably? Are you comfortable working indoors and outdoors? | ||
| Do you enjoy learning about new technology on an ongoing basis? | ||
| Would you enjoy interacting with site supervisors, customers, suppliers, co-workers and other tradespeople to get the job done? | ||
| Do you enjoy tinkering, using tools, solving puzzles, doing calculations and solving problems? |
If you checked YES to the majority of these questions, a career as a Saw Filer/Fitter (611B) may be for you!
You might want to look at these similar trades as well;
- General Machinist
- Welder
- Band Saw Technician
- Locksmith
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- Precision Metal Fabricator
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