How it all began...

Geoff Lowe launched Carba-Tec in his garage in 1987. Since this time it has fundamentally remained a family business. The business has grown out of a passion for fine timbers and woodworking as well as a love of beautifully made tools and equipment.

Carba-Tec soon outgrew its home-based premises and the first showroom opened in 1989. During this time Geoff's early background in toolmaking also led him into developing new tools and machines. Foremost among these were the Carba-Tec Mini-Lathe (the forerunner to all subsequent mini-lathes) and the Bonham scroll chuck.

During his travels in North America, Asia and Europe, Geoff noted that there were many tools that were not available in Australia. Geoff and his staff set out to establish what they believed would be the most interesting and well-stocked woodworking store in the country. He sourced the finest timber, tools and equipment from locations around the world. Geoff and Rod have combed the globe for over ten years in search of the best in tools and machinery. But Carba-Tec has always envisaged quality in the level of service provided with the tool rather than the tangible qualities of the tool itself.

This commitment to quality continues in our current shops in Brisbane and Melbourne as well as in our licensees' shops in Sydney, Perth and Auckland. Also, our web presence now gives us the opportunity to expand our service to customers throughout Australia and beyond. As was the case in the beginning, we will continue to integrate Carba-Tec's core values into this website.