Chris — The 3in1 Workshop · Branson, MO

The Origin Story

“Quit watching and start doing.”

I’ve always been a creative person — drawing, painting, building. But if I’m honest, the foundation was laid long before YouTube or power tools. It started with my grandfather.

He was a builder and a tinkerer — always working on something, always figuring things out with his hands. I learned by watching him and being around that. He even built my first quarter pipe. A grandfather who builds you a quarter pipe is a pretty good reason to love building things.

That stayed with me. For years I watched YouTube videos obsessively — furniture builds, garage setups, closet designs, maker projects of every kind. I had the ideas. I had the passion. I just hadn’t started yet.

My wife finally looked at me one day and said “quit watching and start doing.” So here we are. That was the push I needed and I haven’t stopped since.

The 3in1 Workshop in Branson, Missouri runs out of a garage — mostly Grizzly equipment, an OMTech Pro laser, and whatever project is on the bench that week. I’m a woodworker, a maker, a laser operator, a skateboard lover, and a grandpa — my grandkids call me PaPop. This shop is all of those things at once.

Woodworking — Where It All Started

Furniture builds, garage setups, closet designs — woodworking was the foundation. I spent years learning from YouTube and eventually started applying it in my own shop. The Grizzly equipment came piece by piece and the garage turned into a real production space. Every build taught me something the next one needed.

Laser Engraving — My Wife Started This One

This one was actually my wife’s idea. She wanted to get into laser engraving and cutting and asked if my CNC or Shaper Origin could handle it. I told her we’d need a dedicated laser machine. She asked how much. I looked into it.

I wasn’t interested in the small desktop machines — the bed sizes were too limiting. So I spent about a year researching and landed on an OMTech Pro. The bed size for the cost made it the right call. Yes it was more money, but she wouldn’t outgrow it.

The machine arrived. My wife took one look at it and said “you learn it and run it.” So it joined the arsenal — and honestly it’s changed what the shop can produce. It runs every single day now.

Skateboard Upcycles — This One’s Personal

I’ve been connected to skateboarding since I was 8 years old. It never really left me — I still watch skate videos, still have friends who skate, still love seeing people out there with their boards. Life got in the way over the years — jobs, career changes — and I eventually stepped back from riding. But the passion stayed.

Every once in a while I still get on a board and roll around. Tricks? Not sure those are in the cards anymore — things break a little easier these days.

Upcycling decks into shelves, wall art, and furniture pieces felt like the perfect way to keep that connection alive while doing what I love in the shop. Every deck has history in it. We just give it a second life.

01 / 04

Personal or it’s not worth making

Generic work is everywhere. If someone puts something I made in their home or gives it as a gift, it should mean something to them. That’s the only standard I hold my work to.

02 / 04

The machine doesn’t replace the hand

The laser is a tool, not a shortcut. Everything still gets the same attention whether it’s hand-cut joinery or a precision-engraved sign. The machine extends what’s possible — it doesn’t lower the bar.

03 / 04

If it can be saved, save it

Old skateboard decks. Reclaimed lumber. Furniture someone else gave up on. There’s too much good material getting thrown away. My shop gives it another run.

04 / 04

Built to outlast the trend

I don’t build things for right now. I build them to still be around in fifteen years. If it’s not something I’d be proud to have in my own space, it doesn’t leave the shop.