Sandblaster
What the work is
Operates sandblasting machines to clean and grind metal products and other hard surfaces.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Prepares surfaces for sandblasting by cleaning and removing any debris or contaminants
- Prepares machines for operation by selecting and installing attachments and components for specialised functions
- Directs and controls the flow of abrasive materials onto surfaces to remove paint, rust or other coatings
- Adjusts sandblasting machine settings to achieve desired results
- Inspects surfaces after sandblasting to ensure they are clean and free of imperfections
- Maintains and repairs sandblasting equipment as needed
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a metal fabrication shop with a blasting bay and a spray booth, finishing steel frames and trailers. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A rusty steel frame comes out of the bay clean and ready, and the coat goes on perfectly even
- A finish so smooth that the customer runs a hand over it and smiles
- A tricky colour match that no one else could get right
Hard days
- A heavy respirator and protective suit in a warm booth for a long shift
- A big job that has to be redone because a tiny speck landed in the wet coat
- Being told to hurry a coating that needs time to cure properly
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 731132, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.