Operate or tend furnaces, such as gas, oil, coal, electric-arc or electric induction, open-hearth, or oxygen furnaces, to melt and refine metal before casting or to produce specified types of steel.
<ul><li>Regulate supplies of fuel and air, or control flow of electric current and water coolant to heat furnaces and adjust temperatures.</li><li>Draw smelted metal samples from furnaces or kettles for analysis, and calculate types and amounts of materials needed to ensure that materials meet specifications.</li><li>Weigh materials to be charged into furnaces, using scales.</li><li>Record production data, and maintain production logs.</li><li>Operate controls to move or discharge metal workpieces from furnaces.</li><li>Observe air and temperature gauges or metal color and fluidity, and turn fuel valves or adjust controls to maintain required temperatures.</li><li>Inspect furnaces and equipment to locate defects and wear.</li><li>Drain, transfer, or remove molten metal from furnaces, and place it into molds, using hoists, pumps, or ladles.</li><li>Kindle fires, and shovel fuel and other materials into furnaces or onto conveyors by hand, with hoists, or by directing crane operators.</li></ul>