What's it like working as a Saw Technician in a Queensland sawmill?
Meet Tarran Coutts who when interviewed was working as a Apprentice Saw Technician at the Queensland hardwood sawmilling company DTM Timber. Tarram is completeing his Saw Technician Apprenticeship (Certificate III in Saw Technology)
What does your job involve?
As a Saw Technician, I maintain the tools that are required to produce timber.
What’s a typical working day for you?
My role is to ensure production is maximised through the sawmill. Each day I need to check that saws and tools are being maintained correctly and fully operational. It’s an important role and requires me to demonstrate a high level of dedication, patience, strength and fitness
What’s the best thing about your job?
My job is fantastic as it opens a variety of pathways in the forestry industry. Once I complete my Saw Technician apprenticeship I can go anywhere in the world. I really enjoy the challenge of constant high level work and use of my brain.
How did you get into the job and your apprenticeship?
I was advised by a relation who works in the sawmilling industry about an advertised position foran apprentice and thought I’d have a crack.
What does your apprenticeship involve?
My apprenticeship provides fun, study and I get to meet new people that have the same love for what we do. I attend Creswick College in Victoria for 8 weeks over a 4 year period. I also do a lot of on site training.
What sort of person do you think would be interested in your job?
Loves to learn, outgoing, mechanically minded. Not afraid of hard work. Reasonably intelligent and a quick learner.
If you like the sound of what Tarran's experience read on to learn more about the role of a saw technician.
As a Saw Technician you’ll be a skilled tradesperson, responsible for making, repairing and maintaining saws and a wide range of cutting tools.
In the timber industry you could be working on handsaws, chain saws, band saws and circular saws and doing maintenance on machines too. Saw Technicians are a vital part of forestry. Whether harvesting, saw milling or fabricating, sharp saws are essential.
Depending on your particular job, your roles as a Saw Technician may include:
- Repairing saws
- Sharpening and setting saws
- Removing and replacing saw blades
- Welding tools and saws
- Straightening and stretching steel saw blades
- Operating manual and computer controlled tools and equipment.
You’ll be technically minded and like practical and manual work. You’ll also like working alone or as part of a team, be physically fit and always put the safety of yourself and your workmates first.
Typically entry requirements are Year 10 secondary school. This is followed by a Saw Technician apprenticeship that combines on the job and offsite training.
Employers of Saw Technician include Forestry contractors Timber products fabricators, Sawmills, Saw service shops