Meet The Disruptors: Peter Toomey Featured in Authority Magazine
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Meet The Disruptors: Peter Toomey Featured in Authority Magazine
In February 2024, Authority Magazine featured Rapid Rafter inventor Peter Toomey in their "Meet The Disruptors" series—a collection of interviews with entrepreneurs who are shaking up their industries.
Read the full interview on Authority Magazine →
About Peter Toomey
Peter has been the go-to expert for residential construction in Austin, TX since 1984. With four decades of hands-on framing experience, he's built hundreds of homes and trained countless apprentices in the craft. His commitment to the industry extends to his role on the advisory board for MoistureShield decking products, where he offers insights on eco-friendly building practices.
The Origin Story
The interview reveals the now-famous origin of the Rapid Rafter: Peter was marking rafters for the hundredth time on a hot Texas rooftop when frustration sparked invention.
"I cut existing squares I had, taped them together, and realized what a time-saver it was to be able to mark both sides of the board at once. After realizing the idea wasn't patented, it was off to the races."
Why It's Disruptive
As Peter notes in the interview, the triangle square hasn't changed much in almost 100 years. The Rapid Rafter represents the first fundamental rethinking of how carpenters mark lumber—a patented dual rafter square that does what no single-sided tool can.
Experience the Tool That Started It All — The Rapid Rafter marks both sides of lumber simultaneously. Get yours →
On the Trades
One of the most compelling parts of the interview is Peter's perspective on trades education:
"While I definitely value education, I think it's just as important to focus on educating people in tradesmanship. We need more great people working in the trades and in the construction industry."
This philosophy drives everything Rapid Rafter does—from the Learn hub you're reading now to the design of the tool itself. Great tools make great craftspeople.
Read the Complete Interview
The full Authority Magazine interview covers Peter's five key pieces of advice for disrupting an industry, his thoughts on the future of construction tools, and more details about his journey from carpenter to inventor.