Wood pallet makers create wood pallets for use in storage, shipping and manipulation of goods. Pallet makers operate a machine that takes in usually low-grade softwood planks treated with heat or chemicals and nails them together. The material and shape of the pallets, the treatment methods, and the number and pattern of nails used are all highly standardised to make exchange of used pallets possible.

Tasks

Tasks include -
(a) Setting-up, programming, operating and monitoring several types of woodworking machines for sawing, shaping, boring, drilling, planing, pressing, turning, sanding or carving to fabricate or repair wooden parts for furniture, fixtures and other wooden products;
(b) Operating preset special-purpose woodworking machines to fabricate wooden products such as coat hangers, mop handles, clothes pins and other products;
(c) Selecting knives, saws, blades, cutter heads, cams, bits or belts according to work piece, machine functions and product specifications;
(d) Installing and adjusting blades, cutter heads, boring-bits and sanding-belts, and using hand tools and rules;
(e) Setting and adjusting various kinds of woodworking machines for operation by others;
(f) Reading and interpreting specifications or following verbal instructions.