Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
Under the title Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators, workers laminate layers of fiberglass on molds to form boat decks and hulls, bodies for golf carts, automobiles, or other products. O*NET rates it as some preparation, which usually means a few months to a year of learning on the job. It leans on operations monitoring, monitoring, and speaking. The job can ask you to release air bubbles and smooth seams, using rollers. On the six-type interest model it reads RCA, meaning hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world comes first, followed by orderly work with data, records and clear procedures. People who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world usually fit better here than those who need helping, teaching or caring for people.
What they do
Laminate layers of fiberglass on molds to form boat decks and hulls, bodies for golf carts, automobiles, or other products.
Main tasks
- Release air bubbles and smooth seams, using rollers.
- Spray chopped fiberglass, resins, and catalysts onto prepared molds or dies using pneumatic spray guns with chopper attachments.
- Mix catalysts into resins, and saturate cloth and mats with mixtures, using brushes.
- Check completed products for conformance to specifications and for defects by measuring with rulers or micrometers, by checking them visually, or by tapping them to detect bubbles or dead spots.
- Pat or press layers of saturated mat or cloth into place on molds, using brushes or hands, and smooth out wrinkles and air bubbles with hands or squeegees.
- Select precut fiberglass mats, cloth, and wood-bracing materials as required by projects being assembled.
Skills
- Operations Monitoring
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
- Active Listening
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
- You are comfortable relying on operations monitoring and monitoring.
May not suit you if
- You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
- You want helping people to be at the center of your work. Social rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
- You want a career built on years of advanced study.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCA takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.
Preparation
Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Boat Builder
- Boat Carpenter
- Chopper Gun Operator
- Fiberglass Laminator
- Fiberglass Technician
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.