2026 Schedule

January 21 – “2026 Shop Tour” featuring CJ Crankshaw, Johnny Deden, John Heckman, Jim Kindley, Walt Turczyn

February 18 – Interactive Remote Demonstration by professional Roberto Ferrer – “Embellishment Techniques: Texturing with Power Tools”

March 18– Hands-on – Spindle Turning and Beading Instruction: Get help with your roughing and spindle gouges on two lathes AND also try out specialty beading tools at two lathes. Organized by Dale Fort

April 15 – Live demonstration by John Heckman – “Offset Pen Turning”

May 20 – Interactive Remote Demonstration by professional Mike Mahoney – “Hollow Forms and Urns with Hand-Held Tools”

June 17 – Hands-on – Hand-held Hollowing Tool Instruction: Practice turning hollow forms using hand-held tools. Organized by Jack Higgins

July 15 – Interactive Remote Demonstration by professional Jeff Hornung – “The Morocco Blue Bowl”

August 19 – Discussion and demonstration of “Favorite Finishes” featuring Dug Almy, John Heckman, Jim Hills, John Leffler, Steve Williamson

September 16 – Hands-on – Bowl Turning and Texturing Instruction: Get help with your bowl gouges on two lathes AND also try out several texturing tools at two lathes. Organized by Johnny Deden

October 21 – Live presentation by Brock Webb, Klingspor Abrasives representative – “The Nitty Gritty of Abrasives for Woodturners”

November 18 – Live demonstration by professional Ashley Harwood – “Fundamentals of Spindle Turning and Ornamental Finials”

December 16 – Informal Open Lathe Time – A few seasoned turners will be at Hostetler from 6:30 – 9:00 with the club’s lathes. Everyone’s welcome to come in for some one-on-one instruction about issues of interest to them. Festive cookies and cider also provided.

Membership

Membership in the Charlestowne Woodturners Club is an excellent way for a diverse group of people at all levels to participate and grow in the tradition of woodturning through networking, instruction, information exchange, and camaraderie. As one member stated, “As a green novice, my first instructor urged me to join a woodturning club and it has made all the difference! Charlestowne Woodturners is the best investment I have made in woodturning”.

Benefits of Membership

• Learning skills, new techniques, and helpful information through live demonstrations by local members at monthly meetings.
• Learning skills, new techniques, and helpful information from prominent national professional turners through remote interactive demonstrations at several meetings throughout the year.
• Acquiring new design concepts and ideas as members share their work through “show-and-tell” at each meeting. Access to the Club’s online gallery of members’ work.
• Open discussions and friendly critique allow members to learn and grow at all skill levels.
• Special “hands-on” training sessions several times a year.
• Sharing among members of information regarding regional and national events, people, opportunities, publications, products, and items for sale.
• Networking with other members provides friendly mentoring opportunities, advising, and help with problems, often through invitations to each other’s home shops.
• Learning from accomplished turners within the Club how to market and sell your work.
• Email notifications to members of wood or equipment available. Invitations to participate with other members working to harvest wood from downed trees.
• Instructional materials and recommendations for supplies are available free through the Club’s online “CWT Repository”.
• Opportunities working with fellow members to offer demonstrations, display of members’ work, and sales of donated items at local craft shows and markets.
• Opportunities to develop and improve personal skills in leadership, management, public speaking, turning demonstrations, project management, and team skills through participation in club projects, event planning, and management.
• Low-cost wood and tool raffles and auctions are held at regular meetings.
• Opportunities for low-cost purchases of supplies through bulk purchasing by the Club.
• Assisting members or families with closing a home shop and selling equipment, tools, and wood. 
• Making new friends, sharing ideas, approaches, and problems, and networking with other local woodturners.
• Fellowship and interaction with other members occur not only at regularly scheduled meetings, but also through monthly lunches, pre-meeting dinners, and special events like oyster roasts and picnics.

Current Officers

President – Dale Fort

Vice President – William “Dug” Almy

Secretary – Steve Williamson

Treasurer – John Leffler

For more information about the club please contact

charlestonwoodturners@gmail.com

Mission Statement

The Charlestowne Woodturners, Inc.’s mission is to provide education and information to those who are interested in woodturning. Woodturning is defined as the shaping of wood using a lathe, which results in objects and images that range from the familiar to the profound. This includes everything from decorative and functional bowls, boxes, and vessels, to furniture, architectural spindles, toys, tools, musical instruments, and sculptural objects.

Purposes

The Charlestowne Woodturners, Inc. shall promote an interest in woodturning for persons of all levels of competence and experience, including beginners and advanced professionals; to provide up to date information, education, and guidance for all members; to stimulate creativity, and to explore new methods and techniques for advancing woodturning both as a craft and as an unique art form. The CWT shall promote awareness and appreciation of woodturning to the general public through public demonstrations and education. On occasion, the CWT will support philanthropic work through donations of woodturning art to programs such as Beads of Courage, Inc. or local charities. It shall also encourage membership in the Charleston Woodturners and the American Association of Woodturners.

Charlestowne Woodturners, Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational and charitable organization.

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