From Garage to Showroom: How Ashbuilt Customs Found Its Flow with Carbitool

When you walk into Ashbuilt Customs’ showroom in Moorabbin, you’re greeted not just by furniture, but by stories. Every curve, every joint, every polished surface carries the quiet weight of experience, resilience, and a genuine love of craft. At the centre of it all is Matt, the founder and maker, whose journey with timber began long before the showroom lights came on.

Matt was just 17 when he picked up the tools as a carpentry apprentice. By 21, he’d completed his apprenticeship and quickly found himself working on high-end residential builds in Canberra. Those years were formative, not just in skill but in vision – the kind of work that teaches you how to respect structure and detail. Soon after, opportunities with interior designers opened the door to restaurant, café, and bar fit-outs, where creativity and precision needed to meet seamlessly. On the side, Matt began experimenting with furniture-making for himself.

That personal exploration would eventually become a calling.

From Carpentry Apprentice to Furniture Maker

When he moved to Melbourne, Matt ran a carpentry business until COVID brought everything to a halt. “My carpentry work dried up overnight,” he recalls. But in the quiet of that sudden pause, he picked up furniture-making again with a new level of focus. One of his early pieces made its way into the Australian Wood Review magazine competition, earning a place in the top 15 solid timber cabinets in the country. That recognition was the spark that pushed Ashbuilt Customs into its next chapter.

What began in a single-car garage in Dandenong North is now a growing business with a factory and showroom on Chesterville Road.

The Tools Behind the Craft

Through all those shifts, from carpentry to high-end builds, from lockdown setbacks to competition accolades – one constant has been the tools in Matt’s hands. Carbitool has been part of his process from the very beginning. “I use their measuring tools, like rulers and squares, and of course their router bits,” he says. “If I had to choose a favourite piece I’ve made with Carbitool, it would probably be the Valentina Console. But honestly, all of my pieces rely on their products in some way.”

For Matt, reliability is everything. “When I think about a secure supply chain, it’s really about knowing I can get what I need, when I need it, without interruptions. That reliability is huge for me.” It’s a sentiment that resonates with many makers who know that delays in supply can mean delays in delivering for clients. Carbitool’s consistency ensures that Ashbuilt Customs can keep moving without missing a beat.

Supporting Australian-Made Products

It also matters to Matt that the tools he chooses support local manufacturing. “I always try to buy Australian-made products wherever I can. I think it’s really important to back other Australian businesses.” Carbitool, proudly Australian, aligns perfectly with that value.

When asked what makes a supplier truly trusted, Matt doesn’t hesitate: “Reliability. Quality. Easy access to products and support. Carbitool delivers on all three. They’ve got a friendly, knowledgeable team who are always there when you need them. The quality of their products speaks for itself. In my opinion, there’s no one better in Australia for router bits and measuring tools.”

Bringing Ideas to Life

From the showroom in Moorabbin to homes, restaurants, and venues across the country, Ashbuilt Customs continues to grow, proof of what can happen when skill, resilience, and the right tools come together. And for Matt, Carbitool is more than just a supplier. It’s part of the story.

At Carbitool, we’re proud to be part of that journey, helping makers like Matt bring their ideas to life with confidence, precision, and reliability.

Ready to take your craft to the next level?

Shop the full Carbitool range online and discover the tools that professionals like Matt trust every day.

Follow Matt and Ashbuilt Customs on Instagram for behind-the-scenes looks at his workshop, projects, and inspiration: @ashbuiltcustoms