iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 2h

a mutual highlighted that DIY bit sets often only have even numbered sizes, wondering if I should offer to include a (~£2) drill bit (design load for RawlPlug UNO plugs below, because I know how to have fun at parties)

Screenshot of Rawlplug UNO performance data tables, detailing tension & shear load strengths of various diameter wall plugs into various wall substrates.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 08/10/2026

made a handful of spice shelf frames (availability of these in silver will start improving from Sunday) also some little brackets welded to a bar to act as a paint drying rack as I keep running out of room when spraying

Several steel spice shelf frames on a welding bench. An angle grinder is in the background.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 05/10/2026

but the brackets? I reckon I can do something there, something a bit more stylish than the usual "raw" (read unfinished, rusting) bit of bent steel which is how I ended making these, £29 for a pair inc. UK delivery customsawdustco.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...

Closeup of a scaffold board shelf attached to a wall with a rectangular black steel shelf bracket. A book is at the far end of the shelf.

Closeup of a scaffold board shelf attached to a wall with a rectangular red steel shelf bracket. Books and a houseplant are on the shelf.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 05/10/2026

but scaffold board shelves are having a moment. Which is why I spent last week tarting up a scaffold board - but properly, with stain, and seven coats of Danish oil even done well i'm still not a huge fan of the result - I probably won't be selling scaffold board shelves any time soon

Two scaffold boards on a workbench. The top board has been given a dark stain and several coats of danish oil. The bottom board is unfinished and still has a galvanised steel end strip.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 03/10/2026

very smug that he's found a loophole to the "cats aren't allowed on the kitchen worktop" rule #caturday

A tabby cat sitting, loaf style, on a microwave oven, neatly bypassing the "no cats allowed on the kitchen worktop" rule.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 03/10/2026

every month I sheepishly apologise for stocks of individual spice shelves running low. Usually it's the black shelves that go but this month silver/grey is depleted More steel arriving next week & I'll weld my little socks off to get them replenished customsawdustco.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...

A silver/grey spice shelf attached to a wall. With a steel frame and solid oak shelf it's holding several spice jars. Below, on the kitchen counter, are bottles of oil and vinegar.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 29/09/2026

need another couple of days oiling & waxing the shelves for this tiny batch of #handmade toilet roll holders & small towel rail they'll be ready Thursday afternoon if you can cross your legs till then, meanwhile still some in stock in white at customsawdustco.etsy.com/listing/1843...

The steel frames and oak shelves for a small batch of toilet roll holders & a small towel rail on a workbench. The steel frames have been sprayed black, lacquered, and are now curing. The oak shelves are midway through a multi day program of oiling.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 28/09/2026

an idea I've had rattling around for a while: these wraparound scaffold board shelf brackets going to move somewhat cautiously ahead with them as I've a terrible track record predicting which ideas fly

Six steel shelf brackets on a workbench awaiting spraying.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 26/09/2026

stuck for gift ideas? while a #handmade steel & oak toilet roll holder would be a.. bold.. gift choice, I also make spice racks, towel rails, coat racks, key holders Welded in a leaky Cheltenham greenhouse, I haven't set fire to my shoelaces in weeks customsawdustco.etsy.com #UKgiftAM #UKgiftHour

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 25/09/2026

welded up and a first coat of primer sprayed

The steel frames of four toilet roll holders and a small towel rail on a workbench having just been sprayed with a coat of grey primer.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 25/09/2026

today #welding some 3mm (& 2mm wall tube) with this beloved baby Parweld inverter while horrifically sleep deprived 2.5mm 6013 electrodes, 75-85 amps, and a fire extinguisher nearby *because I've learnt that particular lesson*

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 24/09/2026

spent some time today cutting, cleaning, and drilling the steel for some toilet roll holders and a small towel rail Welding tomorrow, then solid oak shelves will be fitted (don't worry, that's not my blood in the background)

Several small steel parts on a messy workbench. Red paint overspray is in the background. Paint. Not the blood of my enemies.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 21/09/2026

Nobody's needed a coat for the last six months but winter is coming & you might need a coat rack. So I #handmade some coat racks 25-45cm width, with 3-5 hooks respectively, black or white and £45-£55 including UK delivery on #Etsy at customsawdustco.etsy.com/listing/4542...

A handmade black steel coat rack with a solid oak shelf attached to a wall. A coat hangs from one of the hooks and on the shelf is a pair of sunglasses.

Closeup of a white steel coat rack with a solid oak shelf attached to a wall. A coat hangs from one of the hooks and the shelf appears empty.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 21/09/2026

Pleasingly busy weekend sales does mean facing the horror that is the Monday morning post office queue New towel rail, toilet roll holder, spice rack, and key holder shelf all headed to new homes this morning

A stack of cardboard boxes on a workbench, freshly packed with goods and about to be dropped off at the post office.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 18/09/2026

been doing some final assembly of coat racks - a new design closely related to the key holder I already make, but here with fewer, chunkier hooks & a longer throw between the hooks & the shelf v small initial batch of 10 in black or white, 25-45cm, aiming for next Tuesday launch

A black steel coat rack upside down on a workbench being fitted with a solid oak shelf by means of glue and screws. A small battery drill/driver is adjacent.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 15/09/2026

ripping some oak shelves to width with a track saw - still don't have a table saw largely down to witnessing someone lose an argument with one many years ago 😬

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 11/09/2026

final assembly this morning - stocks of shelves in black now looking better, white still a little on the low side

A white steel and oak spice shelf being assembled on a workbench. Clamps hold the oak and steel parts together while epoxy glue grabs and stainless steel screws are sunk.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 10/09/2026

steel frames getting their final lacquer spray (white and black in this batch, silver/grey also available, thinking of adding a sage green maybe?)

Three white steel frames which when paired with solid oak shelves will become individual spice rack shelves.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 09/09/2026

oh I'm sorry, poor Gracie, we're all rooting for her

A tabby cat dozing on a sofa arm, his front paw outstretched to make contact with a human leg

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 09/09/2026

cleaned out the stove & the cat has realised this must mean the hot is about to come back on so has baggsied a spot early He won't move from that spot till sometime around March

A tabby cat sat expectantly in front of a stove. He looks over his shoulder, questioning why the hots aren't on yet

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 08/09/2026

shelves getting first coat of danish oil. Normally go for five coats on oak

Several narrow oak shelves on a workbench. Propped up in triangles, they've just had a first coat of danish oil.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 07/09/2026

and a bit of #woodworking today, ripping oak shelves to width & routing a profile so they fit flush to the steel frames

An unfinished oak shelf on a workbench. A shallow rebate and roundover has been routed to enable it to fit flush with a steel frame.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 05/09/2026

morning spent #welding more spice shelf frames the "here's one I made earlier" available at customsawdustco.etsy.com?section_id=5... - tho stocks quite low at moment

A stack of partially completed steel spice shelf frames on a welding bench. Clamps, welding magnets, wire brush, and a chipping hammer are also on the bench.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 03/09/2026

i'm sorry i say this every month: stocks of #handmade steel & oak spice shelves in black & white are low again - a handful more in black will be ready by Sunday, and a few more in both black & white by end of next week customsawdustco.etsy.com?section_id=5...

Two black steel and oak spice shelves attached to a kitchen wall. The top shelf holds seven herb & spice jars, the lower shelf is wider and holds eleven herb, spice, oil, vinegar, and sauce bottles.

Beneath the shelves, on the kitchen counter, are coffee beans, a coffee mug, and a moka espresso pot.

Two white steel and oak spice shelves attached to a kitchen wall. The top shelf holds seven herb & spice jars, the lower shelf is wider and holds eleven herb, spice, oil, vinegar, and sauce bottles.

Beneath the shelves, on the kitchen counter, are coffee beans, a coffee mug, and a moka espresso pot.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 02/09/2026

actually finished a little #handmade prototype (more accurately this is an evolution of an earlier experimental model and - for now - a one off for our own kitchen)

A three tier white steel spice rack with oak shelves. The middle shelf is cantilevered off to the right and the top shelf is slightly smaller than the other two, this asymmetry allowing for taller oil & sauce bottles to sit alongside regular spice jars.

A three tier asymmetric white steel spice rack with oak shelves.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 30/08/2026

about an hour after taking this he was absolutely furious with us for moving the sun

A tabby cat has found the warm spot and is layed out asleep in the sun. An encroaching shadow over his arse will soon be a cause for great consternation.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 28/08/2026

one of these might actually get made...

A partially constructed spice rack on a workbench. Consisting of a three tier white steel frame the middle shelf support is cantilevered out to the right. Oak shelves will soon be fitted to the steel frame.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 26/08/2026

Filled the boot with all the pretty oak *and* an order came through when I was there, a good day all round :)

Several long (~2m) oak planks secured with yellow strapping in the messy boot of a car. Wellies, high-vis, gloves, and a fair amount of dried mud are also visible.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 24/08/2026

(so of course spent last night's insomnia tweaking designs for another couple of spice racks)

Two oak and steel spice rack designs in a CAD program (SketchUp). The left hand model is designed to be wall mounted, has a black steel frame and three equal width oak shelves. The right hand model is designed to sit on a countertop, has a white steel frame and three oak shelves of varying widths arranged asymmetrically.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 24/08/2026

i've a tendency - i suspect not uncommon here - of starting projects then getting distracted by a squirrel behold my part-completed prototypes - asymmetric spice racks i've gone cold on, scaffold board shelf brackets i really like but not sure of demand, & coat racks that still need shelves

A bench of part completed prototypes. Back left are three tier asymmetric spice rack frames with a coat of primer & still awaiting paint & oak shelves. Back right is a solitary completed scaffold board shelf bracket with a stack of uncompleted models behind. Foreground has a two steel coat rack frames, one black, one white - this just needs oak sourcing, planing, routing, cutting, sanding, oiling, waxing and fixing to the steel frames; then photos taken, then listings created, then sales might roll in.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 22/08/2026

spice shelves assemble! Finally have these #handmade individual black steel & oak spice shelves back in stock at customsawdustco.etsy.com/listing/4386...

Final assembly, via epoxy and screws, of black steel and oak spice shelves on a workbench.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 19/08/2026

lots of oak shelves cut, profiled, sanded and ready for lots of danish oil, after which they'll be fixed to the welded steel frames

16 oak shelves arranged on a workbench, propped up ready for oiling with danish oil.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 18/08/2026

lot of welding done, next to get a coat of primer sprayed

A large stack of steel frames on a welding bench. When sprayed and fitted with profiled oak shelves they'll be some fancy individual spice rack shelves.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 18/08/2026

small batch is up on the #etsy store now, progress on the main batch continues - all the steel & oak parts made, today will be about welding the steel & routing profiles into the oak shelves

Stacks of steel parts and oak boards on a workbench.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 15/08/2026

making a large batch of spice shelves but in an effort to rapidly improve stock levels have split off a smaller batch to be ready sooner This morning bending guard rails & welding the steel frames together

The steel frame of a spice shelf held together with magnets in preparation for welding. Some completed frames are in the background.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 13/08/2026

... and dropped them in this enticing sludge (white vinegar contaminated with repeated contact with iron oxide), when left overnight the weak acid will strip / soften the mill scale (a sort of hard rust formed on hot rolled steel) which would otherwise compromise future paint

A long, narrow planter box filled with deeply unpleasant looking orange liquid (white vinegar, contaminated with regular contact with iron). Some pieces of angle iron are just visible beneath the surface.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 13/08/2026

I say this far too often, once again I'm really low on stock of individual oak & steel spice shelves in black Have just cut (in 37°c heat!) steel parts to make some new stock

Three piles of angle iron and three piles of slim flat bar on a bench. They've been cut to specific lengths and all have a black mill scale coating.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 09/08/2026

do think it's a little irresponsible of Etsy to encourage UK sellers to simply turn on EU delivery without any nod to - let alone assistance with - the legal & regulatory requirements of GPSR and packaging registration I dearly want to deliver to the EU & NI, perhaps Etsy could help with that

Screenshot of a notification within Etsy seller app, reads:
"Reach more buyers by offering delivery to Europe"
"Turn on delivery to the EU to help your listings reach a broader audience. You can turn it on or off at any time in Delivery Settings"

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 08/08/2026

playing around with coat rack designs, the top feels more designery? the bottom feels more useful? but what would you put on that shelf, and if it's just commemorative Charles & Diana wedding plates would I be pitching to a .... dwindling... audience?

A CAD drawing of two coat rack designs. Both are constructed of oak and steel. The top design has steel coat hooks with an oak backing board, the bottom design has steel coat hooks with an oak shelf.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 08/08/2026

curtains shredded, shelf ornaments punted and houseplants chewed important cat business completed, he retires to sleep through the rest of international cat day #caturday

A tabby cat curled asleep on a bed. His front right paw raised at an angle suggesting he's considering flipping a middle finger. If he could, he most certainly would.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 06/08/2026

i used to make cat beds like the attached pic but they were... not commercially successful... so would recommend everyone instead look to @craftycow.bsky.social instead who makes a far fancier chaise longue for far fancier cats

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 31/07/2026

more #welding of #handmade coat rack frames. After grinding & spraying these will have a solid English oak shelf crafted & attached Other stuff going on means these are 3+ weeks away from the #etsy store, customsawdustco.etsy.com has plenty of other pieces in the meantime

The steel frames for some coat racks being welded on a welding table. In the foreground a piece is clamped to the table, the peg bar having just been welded to the rest of the frame. In the background a stack of completed items in various sizes.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 30/07/2026

made a start welding some of the coat rack bits I made yesterday (there are longer ones in the works too) (the red in the background is paint from earlier spraying, *not* the blood of my enemies)

A stack of partially constructed steel coat rack parts on a workbench.

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 28/07/2026

much happier with a fixed 18TPI blade, and back to cutting out stays for a future coat rack model (the bodge job taped torch is perhaps due an upgrade)

Closeup of a metal bandsaw table with the blade orientated vertically. On the table are a stack of small cut parts and another stack of blanks with a shape drawn on them for future cutting.

A torch taped to the bandsaw arm provides extra light .

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matt@customsawdust @customsawdust.co.uk · 28/07/2026

replacing bandsaw blade as snapped another - to be fair my fault, they really don't like variable TPI blades when used vertically #metalwork

A metal bandsaw (Femi 782XL) on a workbench, its blade guard has been removed and the internal wheels and blade are visible.

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