Basking Ridge Teen Launches Handcrafted Woodworking Business

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Basking Ridge 15-year-old Benjamin Reynolds has always loved working with his hands. His passion then sparked further when he started taking woodworking in school and built his first club house. Now he has launched his very own business.

Reynolds took his first woods class with teacher Nick Beykirch when he entered seventh grade at William Annin Middle School. During class he learned to make box cars, and skateboard ramps.

As his interest grew, Reynolds’s mom Hillary encouraged him to do more.

"My mom said I could make money off what I was making," Reynolds said. "I started making nicer things such as cutting boards, a few tables and boxes."

Now in ninth grade, Reynolds launched Handcrafted by Benjamin Reynolds. He uses richly grained poplar, walnut, maple, purple heart, ash, and oak wood for his projects. All products are made in his workshop where he hand cuts with a mitered edge, sand, stains, varnishes and brands with his seal.

Reynolds has made about 80 products so far and has sold them as far as Chicago, Illinois and Birmingham, Alabama. Currently some of his products are displayed at Bling by Design in Bernardsville.

"I think this is a great project for Benjamin because I see that it is fostering a sense of pride in his developing craftsmanship as he gets better and better and offers more complicated projects," Hillary said.

Reynolds said his plans for after high school are to "go to college and try to find something involved with woodworking."

Customers can view his products or order custom pieces at his website handcraftedbybenjaminreynolds.com of follow him on Etsy or Facebook or Instagram or Pinterest.

(Images via Benjamin Reynolds with permission)

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