Career & application guide

Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers

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What do coil winders, tapers, and finishers do?

Wind wire coils used in electrical components, such as resistors and transformers, and in electrical equipment and instruments, such as field cores, bobbins, armature cores, electrical motors, generators, and control equipment.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

Job titles to recognize in your search

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

  • Armature Winder
  • Auto-Winder
  • Coil Finisher
  • Coil Winder
  • Hand Winder
  • Motor Winder
  • Winder
  • Winder Operator

Core tasks to compare with a job posting

  • Operate or tend wire-coiling machines to wind wire coils used in electrical components such as resistors and transformers, and in electrical equipment and instruments such as bobbins and generators.
  • Attach, alter, and trim materials such as wire, insulation, and coils, using hand tools.
  • Cut, strip, and bend wire leads at ends of coils, using pliers and wire scrapers.
  • Review work orders and specifications to determine materials needed and types of parts to be processed.
  • Select and load materials such as workpieces, objects, and machine parts onto equipment used in coiling processes.
  • Record production and operational data on specified forms.
  • Stop machines to remove completed components, using hand tools.

Prepare an application for this occupation

  1. Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
  2. Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
  3. Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
  4. Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.

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