Skip to content
Wintec
Future You

Explore careers

Explore our in-depth info on a large number of job and career options. Find out qualifications needed, average pay, future job opportunities and much more.

Saw Doctor

Kaiwhakatika Kani

Saw doctors set and adjust sawmill saws and repair, grind and sharpen hand, band and circular saws.

Learn about this job keyboard_arrow_down

Secondary education

There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a saw doctor. However, construction and mechanical technologies, maths and physics are useful.

Study fields

Study levels

  • Certificate

Useful experience

Useful experience for saw doctors includes:

  • general engineering work
  • timber machining
  • work in a sawmill.

What you will do

Saw doctors may do some or all of the following:

  • examine saws for faults
  • fix saws by welding, replacing teeth and hammering out lumps and twists
  • sharpen saws using a file or filing machine and adjust tension
  • maintain sawmill equipment and machinery
  • complete relevant documentation
  • ensure workshop areas comply with safety standards.

Skills and knowledge

Saw doctors need to have:

  • mechanical and technical skills
  • welding skills
  • knowledge of saw repair, sharpening and maintenance
  • knowledge of saw speeds, and wood and metal properties
  • an understanding of safe working practices.
Pay

Saw doctors usually earn

$49K-$65K

per year

Job opportunities
Good
Job opportunities for saw doctors are good due to high demand for their services.
Length of training
2-3
years of training required.

Industry

Maintenance and Repair

Saw doctors set and adjust sawmill saws and repair, grind and sharpen hand, band and circular saws.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

To become a saw doctor you need to complete an apprenticeship and gain a New Zealand Certificate Wood Manufacturing – Saw Doctoring (Level 3) or a New Zealand Certificate in Saw Doctoring (Level 4).

Competenz and Toi Ohomai oversee saw doctor apprenticeships and training courses.

Chances of getting a job

Strong demand for qualified saw doctors

Demand for saw doctors is good due to increased demand for processed wood in New Zealand so more saw doctors are needed to maintain wood processing equipment.

There is also a shortage of qualified saw doctors in sawmills.

According to the Census, 270 saw doctors worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Most saw doctors employed in timber processing industry

Most saw doctors are employed by sawmills and timber processing plants. Others work for:

  • engineering companies
  • tool manufacturers
  • specialist saw and blade-sharpening companies.

Find out more about training

Competenz
0800 526 1800 - info@competenz.org.nz - www.competenz.org.nz
Toi Ohomai
0800 86 46 46 - info@toiohomai.ac.nz - www.toiohomai.ac.nz

Progression and specialisations

Saw doctors may progress to set up their own saw doctor business, or become a head saw doctor, overseeing a team of staff. They may also become sawmill supervisors or managers.

Working conditions

Saw doctors:

  • usually work regular business hours, but may work shifts at a sawmill
  • work in sawmills, manufacturing or engineering workshops, or for saw and blade-sharpening companies
  • may work in noisy and hazardous conditions
  • may travel locally to visit clients.

Physical Requirements

Saw doctors need to have good eyesight (with or without corrective lenses) and good hand-eye co-ordination.

Useful personal qualities

Saw doctors need to be:

  • accurate, with an eye for detail
  • patient and methodical
  • practical
  • safety-conscious.

Industry

Maintenance and Repair

Saw doctors set and adjust sawmill saws and repair, grind and sharpen hand, band and circular saws.

Similar jobs in this industry

Job data powered by careers.govt.nz

Wintec is part of New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology Learn More about Wintec.

Learn with purpose

Explore NZIST

Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa - New Zealand Government

Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa - New Zealand Government

Copyright © 2022 Wintec