The Hastings Men’s Shed member took up with the local group after retiring about four years ago.

“I love the men’s shed, it keeps the brain matter going,” Mr Bruhn said.

But if you think the creative juices immediately flow from scrap to priceless piece, you would be wrong.

Some pieces may take as long as six months to complete.

“It’s a funny thing but some things can be sitting on a shelf for six months and then all of a sudden I get a light bulb moment and I can see how I can use it.

“So I don’t count how many hours something takes me to finish or worry about the work involved in creating it. I just let it happen.

“The good thing is that I have wasting anything, so everything will get a second life, as far as I’m concerned.”

Mr Bruhn has just completed a two metre tall emu using a cut up gas cylinder for a body, rio bar for a beak and feet while bike chain was used for the bird’s feathers.

His current creation is a giant globe made from interconnected horseshoes.

Men’s shed secretary Dennis Woods said Mr Bruhn was among the 81 members at the organisation.

“We are all about giving blokes an opportunity to learn a new skill,” he said.

“Part of what we do is give people who would normally be sitting at home the chance for a new lease on life.”

Hastings Men’s Shed operates at 5/25 Central Road and open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 9am until 3pm. Contact 6581 4421.