About Front Range Woodturners
We are the Denver area chapter of the AAW (American Association of Woodturners) serving woodturners throughout Colorado’s Front Range.
Our Meetings
We meet on the first Tuesday of every month from 6:15 PM to 9:00 PM in the basement of Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, 2553 S Colorado Blvd, Denver, 80222.
Visitors are welcome to join us at one of our meetings to see what we are all about.
Upcoming Demonstrations
May – Dave Landers – Sliced Hollow Forms
I’ve been a hobbyist woodturner for over 30 years. I enjoy making things both functional and beautiful. Every time I step in the shop, I strive to not only create something good, but also to advance my skills and abilities.
It’s all about the wood for me. I like creating in harmony with Mother Nature, she’s supplied so much more than just a material to work with. Wood is art. My challenge is to embellish that art, using the lathe and other tools, to enhance the beauty already there. Sometimes, I also get to collaborate with insects or maybe a fungus, and we layer on top of each other’s work.
Most of my bowls and hollow forms are made from “rescued” wood. Trees, removed from someone’s yard, are rescued before they get to the landfill.
I have the privilege of being able to turn wood in my shop and studio in beautiful Estes Park, Colorado.
In this demonstration I will go through the steps I take to create my “Sliced Hollow Forms”. These are forms which have been turned, then sliced on the bandsaw, and then reassembled with pewa (butterfly patches).
June – Bill David (Pikes Peak Woodturners) – Rebecca DeGroot Inspired Walking Legs
Demonstrators scheduled for 2024:
Jul – IRD with Emily Ford – Captured Ring Baby Rattles, Spinning Tops
Aug – Elizabeth Weber – Carving a Wave Leaf Motif
Sep – Raleigh Lockhart – Leaf Bowl
Oct – Matt Monaco – Advanced Skew Work
Nov – Bear Limvere, Two Handed Bowl
Dec – Holiday Party
Member Benefits
- Library – The Front Range Woodturners has an extensive collection of books, magazines, and videos available for members to check out at no cost.
- Demonstrations – Each monthly meeting features an exciting demo given by one of our club members or a professional turner. When available we also offer a full day hands-on class with these renowned turners at a nominal cost.
- Wood Raffle – Members can bring some of their excess wood to a meeting to be raffled off. You can never have too much wood!
- Group Buy – Do you want to save money? We have vendor discounts with Internet suppliers, local suppliers, tool and steel suppliers and wood suppliers. Through our deals with these vendors our members can easily earn back the cost of membership!
- Ladies of the Lathe – All female members of the FRW, aged 18 or older, are invited to join the Ladies of the Lathe. LOTL is intended to provide a comfortable, easy-paced, and non-threatening environment for women to learn and advance their skills in turning.
- Mentoring – Members have access to several programs to help increase their woodturning skills. Group sessions are held monthly and one-on-one mentoring on various topics can be arranged with experienced FRW volunteers.
- PHEOG – The Pete Holtus Educational Opportunity Grant program provides grant money to members through an application process. Applicants may request money for woodturning related classes, workshops, or symposium fees.
![turning a candlestick on a lathe](https://www.frontrangewoodturners.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/banner01-1024x341.jpg)
Special Notices
- The turning challenge for the May meeting is a Bowl. No other requirements than that!
- April is our Group Buy month, if you didn’t turn in your order at the meeting you can mail it to the respective Chair as long as they receive it by April 9th. Go to Resources > Group Buy to fill out an eForm for the different vendors.
- Did you renew your membership? We have a new online form if you want to pay with credit card or PayPal. If you want to pay with check you can still fill out an eForm and mail it in. Click on FRW Membership Info (top of the Home page), and fill out the Current Member Renewal Online Form.
IF YOU HAVEN’T PAID BY NOW YOU WERE DROPPED FROM THE ROSTER. - PHEOG Grant. Congratulations to all of the lucky recipients of a Pete Holtus Educational Opportunity Grant! For more information about the program click on Education > PHEOG.
Upcoming Events
- Our Summer BBQ is planned in conjunction with the Colorado Woodworkers Guild. Time, date, and location TBD, but we’re looking at the last weekend in June or first weekend in July.
AAW’s 38th Annual International Woodturning Symposium
The AAW International Woodturning Symposium is the biggest and most well-known annual woodturning event in the world.
May 23rd – 26th
Portland, OR
www.aawsymposium.org/portland
SWAT 32nd Annual Woodturning Symposium.
Get Ready! SWAT 2024 registration is now open. Registration includes lunch all 3 days. Register by July 31st, after that prices are higher at the door.
Congratulations to FRW members Jessica Edwards and Pat Scott who will be Regional Demonstrators at SWAT this year.
August 23, 24, 25
Waco, TX
www.swaturners.org/
Rocky Mountain Woodturning Symposium.
Registration is now open. Every registration includes a T-Shirt and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Early registration (before June 1) will be discounted. After August 31st, the price increases and T-Shirts are not available.
Congratulations to FRW member Chris Hoehle who will be one of the Regional Demonstrators at the symposium this year.
September 27, 28, 29
Loveland, CO
rmwoodturningsymposium.com/