Flynn Howard is a woodworker and general repairer and restorer who specialises in bringing furniture and other items of value back to life. At Ratworks, his workshop at YREC, he “makes things, fixes things, finds things and sometimes break things!”
Flynn works with a philosophy of avoiding waste and not hoarding the best materials. He values finding new purposes for reclaimed materials. With an approach that centres upcycling and recycling, he can take raw material in any form and make something.
With an emphasis on furniture restoration, Flynn is working toward custom furniture design and bespoke products, but can also offer services in timber framing and small repairs and building projects in people’s homes.
“As a kid If I could pull something apart to see how it worked I would,” says Flynn. “One of my grandfathers was a chemist and the other a carpenter. I was fortunate to inherit all my tools from my grandfather and also a great deal of know how. I’m making the most of it now.” He enjoys the feel and function of his old tools with all their inherent history when he works. He is inspired by his recent trip to Latvia where he completed a woodworking course that specialised in Western European carpentry and timber framing.
Living in Warburton almost three years, Flynn has been touched by the sense of community, especially coming from the inner suburbs where he didn’t meet his neighbours. This has also been true of the other tenants at YREC. “I’m genuinely grateful to be here,” he says. “I can be relaxed in my space with no one breathing down my neck. I appreciate I don’t have to feel isolated, but I can also find quietness when needed.”
Flynn needed a space away from home to start his business as living in a rental property meant there was not the opportunity to establish a workspace at home. He set up his workshop in December 2025. He chose YREC after seeing how suitable the spaces were for his business goals. He earned the title ‘Ratboy’ from a writer’s bio he wrote for a university project that stuck. Naming his business Ratworks was a logical extension.
In the workshop Flynn has been creating a workbench of Silvertop with Greybox legs. He has already completed a range of jobs for the community including the repair and modification of a family dining table to accommodate a wheelchair.
“In the future I intend to expand what I can do and more directly service the community. I’m exploring 3D printing and have an interest in plastic recycling, taking everyday waste such as discarded water bottles and turning them into useful daily items,” he says.
Flynn can be contacted via his IG or website. If anyone needs anything fixed, or even to know if it’s worth fixing, drop in to the studio for a quick assessment and quote on repairs and other projects.