CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Kraig Paulsen, Iowa’s Speaker of the House, is capable of crafting more than legislation. He’s also an avid craftsman who made the gavel he wields on the House floor.

The seven-time lawmaker is also a longtime woodworker. He began making gavels when he first became speaker in 2011, according to Cedar Rapid’s The Gazette. Paulsen makes gifts of his gavels to fellow House speakers he has met through legislative conferences. Working from his wood shop in back of is Hiawatha, Iowa home, Paulsen said it takes four or five hours to compete a handmade gavel.

In addition to gavels, Paulsen made and donated a table he made for the Iowa Speaker’s office.