detailschuurder

Detailschuurder is a Dutch-language occupational term referring to a craftsman who specializes in the precise sanding and finishing of small or intricate areas on a workpiece. The compound combines details with schuurder (sander). It is used mainly in Dutch-speaking regions and appears in contexts such as woodworking, instrument making, and fine metalworking.

Responsibilities include smoothing complex contours, removing minor surface defects, creating clean transitions between adjacent surfaces, and preparing surfaces for subsequent coatings. A detailschuurder works on detailed components where general finishing would not reach, often in collaboration with designers, machinists, or luthiers.

Common tools and techniques include micro-sanders, rotary tools with small burrs or sanding bits, needle files, various abrasive papers and foam-backed blocks, and careful masking to protect surrounding features. Techniques emphasize maintaining precise shapes, avoiding over-sanding, and achieving uniform sheen or micro-structure in the finished area.

Skills and training: high manual dexterity, steady hand, good eye for detail, ability to read technical drawings and finish specifications, experience with different materials (wood, metal, composites). Safety training with dust control, PPE, and tool operation is standard.

Industry role and context: the term is not widely standardized and may overlap with finishing, polishing, or micro-finishing roles. It is more common in small-scale workshops or craft domains (furniture making, lutherie, restoration) than in mass production. In English-language contexts, the role is often described as finisher or micro-finisher.