Turns valves to fill compressor jackets with slurry and to heat drying ovens.
Starts feed tank agitator, wad compressors, and conveyors.
Observes molded wads emerging from compressor punches to detect concave tops indicating fouled punch tip. Unbolts punch tube and cleans accumulated slurry from tip, using compressed air or water. Replaces bent or broken punches, tubes, knock-off fingers, and transfer plates, using handtools. Weighs specified number of dried wads from each batch of slurry on grain scale, and computes quantity of water needed to produce wads of specified weight. Measures thickness of wads, using dial gauge, and adjusts spacing between top and bottom punches to change wad thickness, using micrometers, feeler gauges, and precision gauge blocks.