Colchester wood-worker wows with intricate creations

It is the attention to detail which indicate Robbie Lynds’s wood projects would be extremely challenging to build.

And Lynds wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I enjoy doing them because of the challenge,” Lynds said. “I like doing projects you don’t think you’re capable of, but then push yourself to learn how to do them.”

A good example is his tractor and manure spreader piece, which measures around 10 feet long when connected, and is being raffled off to help support Kristen’s Park and Dax’s Playground in Debert, in memory of shooting vicitm Kristen Beaton, her unborn baby and surviving son, Dax.

“I never did anything like that. It was challenging, so I wanted to do it,” Lynds said, before addressing the time it took him to complete the work. “A lot of hours. Around 200 or 300 probably, but I never really keep track.”

Not keeping track of the time a project takes is an example of the casual attitude he takes to the hobby and he suggests others, with the woodworking itch, do the same.

“You have to enjoy it,” he said. “Don’t look for compensation because you’ll never get your money back on your time or anything like that.”

“You have to enjoy it … Don’t look for compensation because you’ll never get your money back on your time or anything like that.”

Robbie Lynds

In his opinion, Lynds said, the younger generation doesn’t have the same appreciation for wood products his generation did.

“You can’t compete against Ikea, but you’re getting better quality when you’re getting handmade.”

Lynds said he came to the hobby about 30 years ago and started by picking up some

small tools. He started out making shelves and small boxes.

“Easy, little stuff,” he said. “I like working with my hands and have worked in the forest industry all my life. If I want and like to build it, I build it. I’ve built all kinds of stuff over the years.”

He is also completely self taught.

“There are a lot of mistakes, nobody ever sees them, but there are,” he said, with a chuckle. “You’re always learning as you go and you learn a lot.”

Lynds is working more on models these days. He said the tractor and manure spreader fall into the model category, as well as a couple of detailed excavators he just finished up.

“They all work, and everything is wood. I don’t use any metal or anything else,” he said.

He describes the models as conversation pieces and suggested, because of the length of the tractor and combine, it would make for a good showpiece at a business.

That is, kind of, its setting now as it sits at Totally Local in downtown Truro. The store is displaying it for raffle ticket purchasers.

“We’ve been getting a lot of compliments on the two-piece set over the last few weeks of having it here, and it being posted on social media,” store owner Wendy Mccallum said.

“Little kids love it and immediately try to get on it, while parents take in all the detail and can’t believe the intricacies in the work, such as the wooden chains which actually turn the combine.”

“It’s nice to be able to help out,” Lynds said.

Persons interested in purchasing his work can contact Lynds at 902-890-6292.