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

October Demonstrator: J. Paul Fennell – Creating Hollow Forms: Tools and Techniques

J. Paul Fennell is one of the most respected names in contemporary woodturning. A woodturner for more than 55 years, he has specialized in hollow forms for over three decades. Largely self-taught and drawing on a strong engineering background, Paul has developed innovative techniques and tools that have influenced generations of turners.

His work has been featured in major woodturning publications and is included in prominent private, museum, and institutional collections, including the Smithsonian, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and many others. A founding member of the American Association of Woodturners, Paul has been a featured symposium demonstrator, instructor, and presenter worldwide. In 2023, he received the AAW Professional Outreach Program Merit Award for his outstanding artistic achievements and contributions to the field.

Demo: Creating Hollow Forms – Tools and Techniques
Paul will demonstrate the creation of elegant hollow forms, focusing on how subtle changes in line, shape, and proportion dramatically affect a vessel’s appearance. Topics will include:

Hollowing techniques using homemade tools
Turning in reverse to reduce body fatigue
Simple methods for finishing the bottom of a piece
Indexing techniques for creating spirals, basket weave patterns, and other geometric designs
Slide presentation and additional tips as time permits

Class: Piercing
Have you always wanted to try piercing but lacked the specialized equipment? This hands-on class is your opportunity. Paul will teach techniques for piercing thin-walled vessels and sample boards using professional high-speed pneumatic handpieces and burs, all of which will be provided along with patterns and transfer materials.

Students may bring their own turned pieces for piercing, provided wall thickness does not exceed 3/16″. This is a unique opportunity to learn from a master artist while using professional equipment, and it’s a class you won’t want to miss.

November Demonstrator: Patrick Crumpton – Sea Urchin Ornament w/Painted Interior

Patrick was born in Colorado and spent most of his childhood in northern New Mexico near Taos before returning to Colorado after high school. Over the years, he has also lived in Georgia and Las Vegas, Nevada.

His career has included work in retail, telecommunications, pharmaceutical manufacturing, information technology, and state government. During his ten years in pharmaceutical manufacturing, he helped produce medications used in the treatment of AIDS, cancer, and osteoporosis, as well as active ingredients used in Tamiflu. He later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and currently works for the State of Colorado in Human Resources Information Systems.

Patrick began woodturning in 2012 and joined Front Range Woodturners in 2013. He has served as the club’s Secretary since 2015, and with the exception of 2018, has been an active contributor to the club for many years. His primary turning interests are small projects, especially pens, boxes, and Christmas ornaments.

Demo Description:
Patrick will demonstrate his unique take on a Sputnik-style sea urchin ornament. This project combines turning, painting, and creative assembly to produce a striking decorative ornament.

- Where to obtain suitable sea urchin shells.
- Preparing the ornament for turning.
- The tools and jigs used throughout the process.
- Turning a small interior disk that will be painted with a miniature landscape scene.
- Turning the decorative button for the back of the ornament.
- Installing the hanging mechanism and, if time permits, discussing display options using a base and wire support.

Because several steps require significant preparation time, the demonstration will include a few “TV cooking show” moments with partially completed components prepared in advance. However, Patrick will demonstrate the painting process on the two-inch landscape disk and walk attendees through the complete process from start to finish.

Demonstrators for 2026:
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 – Monthly meetings feature 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.
Brown Bag Demo – Bring your lunch and watch a free in-person mini demo on a variety of topics in a smaller, more relaxed setting.
HOW (Hands On Woodturning) – monthly hands-on-classes taught on a variety of subjects from Beginner to Advanced skill levels. HOW classes are free for members.
Wood Drawing – Members can bring some of their excess (good) wood to a meeting so it can find a new home with a different member. 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.
Workshop Tours – monthly tour of members workshop. Get ideas and get inspired!

Special Notices

The FORMS tab (above) has all of our forms in one spot (Group Buy, Membership, Gallery, etc).
The Turning Challenge for the October meeting is a Winged Box like Steve Newberry demoed at our September meeting.
October 13th: Brown Bag Demo (“view and chew,” as Raleigh says). Don Prorak will demo his world famous Tri-Corner forms. These start from a cube mounted diagonally from point to point. Don will demonstrate both single and double tri-corner pieces, including captive rings on the double. He will show how they can be used to create small bowls, lidded boxes, tea light holders, clocks, napkin rings, and more.
October 20th: HOW class. Jay Miller will guide the class on making Inside/Out Christmas Ornaments. This class is for Advanced Beginners and higher.
October 27th: Ladies of the Lathe. Club President and all around good guy Raleigh Lockhart will show how to Turn and Carve Pumpkins.
NOTE: Starting in July, LOTL moved to the 4th Tuesday of the month instead of the 1st Tuesday.
Our next Group Buy is in October with pickup at the November meeting. Group Buys are once a quarter (Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct).
PHEOG Grant
2026 applications were extended until May 15th, and I’m happy to report we had four lucky recipients! Congratulations to all, and we look forward to seeing what you share with the club for your payback.
Remember if you received an award last year you have 1 year to give your payback.

Upcoming Events

Oct 24th – Annual tool sale and swap
Oct 31st – Austin Hardwoods shop tour
Dec 11th – Holiday party