Hey there,

My name is Cole, and I’m the one behind Controlled Burn.

A few years back I picked up an XTool D1 10W just to add something new to my woodworking and to teach my daughters a bit about computer design. What started as a simple family project quickly turned into something bigger. My girls became my biggest muse — especially when they asked for accessories to go with their Schleich horse collection. That kicked off a whole series of 1:24 scale barns, fences, corrals, and wagons.

I am also fascinated by the simple yet functional ways of the past and enjoy exploring their design, and converting them over to laser-cut designs. There’s something really satisfying about taking those old ideas and making them work in miniature.

These days I’m running an XTool D1 Pro 40W and I get my 3mm Russian birch plywood from a local Readers hardwood store here in Massachusetts. Every design starts as a prototype I cut and test right in my shop (See below). By day I’m a carpenter and handyman, but in my off hours you’ll usually find me designing and building these laser cut projects.

I design everything with no-glue assembly in mind whenever possible. I make the pieces strong enough that they can actually be played with as toys, while still adding enough detail that they work great as decor too. I don't add much engraving to my designs but leave them as a blank canvus for others to explore. I test every single file on my own machine so I know it goes together the way it should. My goal is simple — create files that work the first time instead of the frustrating, messy ones others run into.

Right now I’m looking for a fresh genre to dive into. I feel like I’ve pretty much covered the Schleich / 1:24 horse world, so I’m excited to start designing new things. If you have ideas or requests, I’d love to hear them.

Thanks for stopping by and supporting a small family shop. Whether you’re just starting out with your laser or you’ve been cutting for years, I hope you find something here that makes you smile when it comes together.

Talk soon,

Cole