Job Description:

• 1) Finishes brasswind instrument pistons and assembles piston parts, using handtools: Inserts crooks through precut holes in piston blank and cuts them to length, using sheet metal snippers or table saw.

• 2) Places piston blank over mandrel or die and pushes steel balls or works ball-ended handtool through crooks to expand crooks to limits of holes into which they are inserted.

• 3) Presses in piston bottom and head, using small hand press.

• 4) Solders bottom plate onto piston, and removes excess solder, using scraping tool.

• 5) Rough trims crooks, after soldering, using table saw.

• 6) Operates turning lathe to face and bevel piston ends, and to shape and smooth external surface of piston.

• 7) Operates drill press to tap threads into piston.

• 8) Solders crooks to piston blank, using silver solder and gas torch.

• 9) Grinds piston to final size, using special piston grinder and gauge.

• 10) Inspects finished pistons for defects, such as holes and dents.