Woodcraft/Woodworking clubs in the Aurora (South) Colorado area?

[Jon Rista]

Hello Woodcrafters! I live in Colorado, the area often called "Aurora South", as its pretty close to the southern border of Aurora, a bit of a nexus of several counties/cities, right next to Cherry Creek state park. There is a local Woodcraft down here, and they have a shop where they hold classes and some other events, but they don't really have a club. The old guard who used to work there, all seem to have moved on (many likely retired entirely, but some may have just moved on to other things....they were an amazing group of guys though!) The current staff don't seem to be woodworkers much themselves or at all, and don't have a lot of ideas. The Rockler guys do, but its all up in Denver (which is where the Rockler is), and not really close to home.

Just wondering if there are other Colorado woodwokers from the Aurora South area, who know of any woodworking clubs or the like around here? I've never really plugged into the local community...I'm not much of a people person, and I generally avoid being around people, but...I feel like I need to get connected with some local woodworkers to really start expanding my own craft. I know what I know, but, a lot of what I know comes from a certain group of YouTubers mostly, and I know how they work, and I don't seem to be learning much anymore. I am subscribed to a couple of woodworking magazines as well, but those only come out once every couple of months, which is a long time! I try to push my own boundaries, but, I'm probably reinventing the wheel 99% of the time. Would be nice to learn from other woodworkers who actually have some real skill, rather than try and figure everything out myself.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Steve Tiedman]

Are any of the AAW chapters near you?

AAW Connects

www.woodturner.org

 

[Dave Landers]

The CO clubs along the I 25 corridor are in Loveland, Denver, Springs, and Pueblo. The Denver club (Front Range Woodturners) is an excellent group, active, and they host a lot of activities. Totally worth checking out IMO.

I’m a member of Rocky Mountain (Loveland) and the hour drive each way is worth it. If I could get to FRWT in about an hour, I’d probably be going there too.

Both RMWT and FRWT broadcast their meetings and demos on zoom - check their websites for contact info- I know at least RMWT will let you be a guest for a meeting or two.

 

[Jason Matisheck]

As Dave mentioned, Front Range Woodturners meets in the basement of Rockler on the first Tuesday of the month, 6:15. https://www.frontrangewoodturners.org/

If you're interested in other woodworking, the Colorado Woodworkers Guild meets at Rockler the third Tuesday of the month, 6:30. https://colowood.com/

Rockler is really the closest to you in Aurora. The next closest clubs are in the Springs. We have people come in from Longmont and Hudson to Rockler, so I guess what's far is relative. There is also a group that carpools up from the Springs. If you join you might find someone to carpool with. Hope to see you there.

 

[John K Jordan]

Don’t know how far the clubs mentioned are from you, but I know people who regularly drive well over an hour to a meeting, not so bad if, as mentioned, you can car pool. Some clubs have zoom meetings, too. The drive to our club is theoretically about 30 minutes but it’s turned into closer to an hour with increased after-work traffic around Knoxville (which will likely only get worse.) Pretty quick to get home later in the evening, though.

 

[Jon Rista]

I drove around the Denver Metro region for many years...I'd say over 20 years at this point. Every year, the driving got worse, until I couldn't handle it anymore. Colorado is ranked as one of the worst places to drive in the country (I think we are 5th from last!!!) I've seen some truly IN-SANE car crashes, where cars flip up on top of a 6-7 foot high median wall, scrape along it, and come to rest against one of the light posts. I've seen cars entirely flip over the median. I've seen people drive strait across entire boulevards into businesses...

If I could actually describe my aversion to driving in Colorado, I would....best I can come up with is an utter unfettered loathing HATE for it. ;P If I can avoid driving around Colorado, unless I'm out in the back roads of the wilderness, I do.

I did not realize, though, that Rockler actually hosted anything. I literally asked one of the sales guys there about clubs, and he never mentioned it...and I thought he'd worked there for some time. In any case, Rockler isn't too far, so I might give it a try. I don't know how often I'll go, though, if I have to drive up towards Denver every time. I-25 is horrific 90% of the time, and terrible the rest. Colorado Blvd isn't much better. I think I get to Rockler three, maybe four times a year most of the time.

I am kind of surprised, that there aren't many meets... I thought there were more things going on back in 2020, when I first got started in woodworking. At least according to the old guard from Woodcraft. I'm starting to think that woodcraft is in severe decline around here...which makes me pretty sad... Maybe its just in my little area though.

 

[Dave Landers]

I did not realize, though, that Rockler actually hosted anything. I literally asked one of the sales guys there about clubs, and he never mentioned it...and I thought he'd worked there for some time. In any case, Rockler isn't too far, so I might give it a try. I don't know how often I'll go, though, if I have to drive up towards Denver every time. I-25 is horrific 90% of the time, and terrible the rest. Colorado Blvd isn't much better. I think I get to Rockler three, maybe four times a year most of the time.

They have a large demo / meeting / training space downstairs. They seem to be really supportive of the FRWT and the other woodworking group(s) that meet there. I've only been down there a couple times, but I know several FRWT members.

I am kind of surprised, that there aren't many meets... I thought there were more things going on back in 2020, when I first got started in woodworking. At least according to the old guard from Woodcraft.

I think the Springs and Pueblo clubs took a bit of a hit from the pandemic. Building back from that is a challenge for some.

The Denver club has a monthly meeting/demo, a mentoring session, and most months a brown-bag (lunch hour) demo, a class or two, and occasional shop tours. Seems like a pretty full schedule to me.

I'm starting to think that woodcraft is in severe decline around here...which makes me pretty sad... Maybe its just in my little area though.

I've heard that about other woodcraft stores. The one in Loveland is great (same guy owns the Springs store). They seem to be doing well and are very supportive of our AAW club. Sounds like it's quite dependent on the owner (and location etc)

 

[Jason Matisheck]

I drove around the Denver Metro region for many years...I'd say over 20 years at this point. Every year, the driving got worse, until I couldn't handle it anymore. Colorado is ranked as one of the worst places to drive in the country (I think we are 5th from last!!!) I've seen some truly IN-SANE car crashes, where cars flip up on top of a 6-7 foot high median wall, scrape along it, and come to rest against one of the light posts. I've seen cars entirely flip over the median. I've seen people drive strait across entire boulevards into businesses...

If I could actually describe my aversion to driving in Colorado, I would....best I can come up with is an utter unfettered loathing HATE for it. ;P If I can avoid driving around Colorado, unless I'm out in the back roads of the wilderness, I do.

I did not realize, though, that Rockler actually hosted anything. I literally asked one of the sales guys there about clubs, and he never mentioned it...and I thought he'd worked there for some time. In any case, Rockler isn't too far, so I might give it a try. I don't know how often I'll go, though, if I have to drive up towards Denver every time. I-25 is horrific 90% of the time, and terrible the rest. Colorado Blvd isn't much better. I think I get to Rockler three, maybe four times a year most of the time.

I am kind of surprised, that there aren't many meets... I thought there were more things going on back in 2020, when I first got started in woodworking. At least according to the old guard from Woodcraft. I'm starting to think that woodcraft is in severe decline around here...which makes me pretty sad... Maybe its just in my little area though.

The Woodcraft in Centennial is for sale, if you want to take it over.

 

[Jon Rista]

They have a large demo / meeting / training space downstairs. They seem to be really supportive of the FRWT and the other woodworking group(s) that meet there. I've only been down there a couple times, but I know several FRWT members.


I think the Springs and Pueblo clubs took a bit of a hit from the pandemic. Building back from that is a challenge for some.

The Denver club has a monthly meeting/demo, a mentoring session, and most months a brown-bag (lunch hour) demo, a class or two, and occasional shop tours. Seems like a pretty full schedule to me.


I've heard that about other woodcraft stores. The one in Loveland is great (same guy owns the Springs store). They seem to be doing well and are very supportive of our AAW club. Sounds like it's quite dependent on the owner (and location etc)

Thanks. It looks like the meet is the first Tuesday of each month, so I'll try in May.

When I said "woodcraft" I meant the craft of working with wood, not the store...but, it works for both I guess! :\ Back in 2020 both WoodCraft and Rockler were both happening places with tons of people in them all the time. Rockler has more customers than WoodCraft these days. Any time I go to WoodCraft, its totally dead, mostly silent, the staff usually just quietly chatting with each other up front. Occasionally a customer is quietly in there somewhere, sometimes someone might come in, grab something and go. The difference between today, and the spring, summer and fall of 2020, and most of 2021 I'd say, is SO STARK. It is really sad.

The Woodcraft in Centennial is for sale, if you want to take it over.

That's my store... Arapahoe and Peoria right? How long has it been for sale? Man, it would be a bummer to lose it entirely...hope someone buys it and keeps it going...

 

[Jason Matisheck]

Thanks. It looks like the meet is the first Tuesday of each month, so I'll try in May.

When I said "woodcraft" I meant the craft of working with wood, not the store...but, it works for both I guess! :\ Back in 2020 both WoodCraft and Rockler were both happening places with tons of people in them all the time. Rockler has more customers than WoodCraft these days. Any time I go to WoodCraft, its totally dead, mostly silent, the staff usually just quietly chatting with each other up front. Occasionally a customer is quietly in there somewhere, sometimes someone might come in, grab something and go. The difference between today, and the spring, summer and fall of 2020, and most of 2021 I'd say, is SO STARK. It is really sad.


That's my store... Arapahoe and Peoria right? How long has it been for sale? Man, it would be a bummer to lose it entirely...hope someone buys it and keeps it going...

Yes. I think I heard about it late last year or early this year. One would think someone would take it over. Maybe the owner of the Loveland and Springs Woodcrafts.

 

[Jon Rista]

Yes. I think I heard about it late last year or early this year. One would think someone would take it over. Maybe the owner of the Loveland and Springs Woodcrafts.

I just read that the Peoria store, was apparently the first retail outlet that Woodcraft opened, in 1989... It was at a different location at first, before it moved to where it is now... I did not know that. Would be real sad if it vanished.

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

I drove around the Denver Metro region for many years...I'd say over 20 years at this point. Every year, the driving got worse, until I couldn't handle it anymore.

I lived in Colorado Springs for 5 years (97-02), and have visited family in Denver every year for the past 30 years. I really dislike driving in Denver. My sister lives in the Capital Hill area, which doesn't help.

 

[Jon Rista]

I lived in Colorado Springs for 5 years (97-02), and have visited family in Denver every year for the past 30 years. I really dislike driving in Denver. My sister lives in the Capital Hill area, which doesn't help.

Denver is horrid. There are other places in Colorado that are fine, and I've heard many people say Colorado Springs is nice from a driving standpoint (its been about 20 years since I've driven down there myself.) Denver though, the entire area around it, all those other cities, all the way up through Boulder, and south to Castle Rock, is just a nitemare. I've thankfully been able to work from home for a number of years now (actually started before the pandemic, software), so I haven't had to deal with it much for a while. Honestly, don't think I could ever go back to driving into an office, especially down town. A 15 minute drive, give or take a few minutes, on clear roads, takes an hour or so in, and usually closer to two hours back home. So when I did drive to an office, it was always over two hours of additional time out of my day, driving, often enough three hours. I have other businesses now, including a woodworking buisness....2-3 hours is a devastating waste of time each day!