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

Oct – Cindy Drozda – Banksia Pod Ornament (IRD or Interactive Remote Demo)

Working in small cabinet shops until 1992, I then turned to full time self-employment. I explored several options, including making hang gliding equipment and building airplanes, before realizing that working with wood was my true passion. My first experience with turning wood was in 1984, when I made a pair of chairs with turned spindles. Woodturning continued to be one of my many hobbies until I made it my full time occupation in 1998.

My work has been chosen for exhibitions around the country, and has appeared in several magazines and books. I am an active member of the American Association of Woodturners, and demonstrate my woodturning techniques at national symposiums and local clubs. Through my instructional DVD/videos, I am able to share my passion for woodturning with the entire community.

The Banksia Pod globe gives this ornament a unique look. If you have always wondered what to do with Banksia Pods, come join my Interactive Remote Demo and be inspired by this unique and renewable material! In addition to Finial turning techniques, the presentation will include selecting a Banksia Pod, hollowing the globe, and fitting the Finial.

Nov – Laurent Niclot – more info to come

Demonstrators scheduled for 2025:
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.
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

2026 Officer and Chair elections will be here before you know it. We need a new President as Don is stepping down after 2 years, and we need a new VP since Jessica moved. Give thought to which position you would like to help with. You can nominate yourself or someone else, simply send an email to [email protected] with your nomination.
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 Box, preferably cross grain like Raleigh’s demo.
Our last Brown Bag Demo (“view and chew” as Raleigh says) was on September 9th. Larry Fox demoed Christmas trees and Christmas Tree ornaments.

Our next Brown Bag Demo is October 14th from 11am-2pm. Todd Bowen will demo turning Antler pens:
Turning an antler on a wood lathe creates challenges at every step. Not being a straight material, and the difference in density from the cortex to the marrow, each create different challenges to the woodturner. Topics covered will include, cutting, drilling, considerations for glue up, how to fix screw ups, turning tools and techniques and finally finishing and assembly”.

Our last Group Buy for the year will be at the October meeting with pickup in November.
Membership Renewal: Use our online form if you want to pay with credit card or PayPal. If you want to pay with check you can fill out an eForm and mail it or bring to a meeting. Click on FRW Membership Info (top of the Home page), or the Forms tab and fill out the Current Member Renewal Online Form.
PHEOG Grant. Congratulations to the 2025 grant winners!
Marcee Morris
Don Sheffield
Brenda Blaesing
Rocky Mountain Folk School
(c/o Dennis Fanning)

Remember if you received an award you have 1 year to give your payback to the club.

Upcoming Events

Tool sale / Swap Meet
Our annual Tool sale/swap meet is scheduled for Saturday, Nov.1st starting at 11am.
Do you have tools you no longer need? Do you have too much wood? Do you like to buy tools or wood? Do you want to put some cash in your pocket? Do you like to haggle and make deals? Then you’ve come to the right place! You can do any or all of the above at our annual swap meet and sale!

Upcoming Symposiums!

Rocky Mountain Woodturning Symposium

What a great Symposium! Mark your calendars for next year:

September 19-21, 2025
Loveland, CO
rmwoodturningsymposium.com/