Beech Log Woodturning: 13 Steps Behind the 38 Million View Video That Maxed Out a Lathe

Beech log woodturning might not sound like something millions of people would watch, but one video proves otherwise. In it, a woodturner loads a huge, rough log onto his lathe, a log so big it pushes the machine to its limit. Seventeen minutes later, that log has become a tall, elegant vase wrapped in neat little beads, with dark spalting lines running through the pale wood like ink. There is no rush and no drama, just curls of wood flying and a shape slowly appearing. Below, we walk through the build step by step, explain what makes spalted wood so special, and share two easy projects you can make without a big lathe. Pour a coffee and get comfortable, because this one is oddly relaxing..

Meet the Maker Behind This Beech Log Woodturning Video

The video comes from Jack Mack Woodturning, a channel that shares a new turning project most weeks. On December 10, 2021, he posted his video, Woodturning: I Maxed Out My Lathe, where he turns a large spalted beech log into a beaded vase. It has now been watched almost 38 million times. In the description he explains that he likes to nibble away at a piece “until I see what shape the wood wants to be.” That patient approach is exactly why viewers cannot look away..

You will need: A comfortable seat, the sound turned on low and about seventeen minutes to enjoy the full video.

How to make it: 1. Watch the video from start to finish. 2. Notice how slowly the shape changes. 3. Pause at the beads to see how evenly they are spaced. 4. Use the steps below to follow along.

What Spalted Beech Is

Spalting happens when natural fungi start to grow inside a fallen or cut log. They leave thin black lines and soft grey or creamy patches running through the wood. Beech is famous for it, because its pale, even wood makes the dark lines stand out like a drawing. That is one reason beech log woodturning is so popular. Turners love spalted wood because no two pieces are ever the same. Wood that has spalted too long gets soft, so it is a race to catch it at the right moment. Have you ever seen wood like this in a forest?

You will need: Curiosity, and if you want to try it, a log that has been cut and left to rest in a damp, shady place.

How to make it: 1. Look at the end of a cut beech log. 2. Spot the thin black zone lines. 3. Tap the wood to make sure it is still firm. 4. Seal the ends to stop it drying too fast.

Beech Log Woodturning Step 1: Mounting the Log

A log this size is heavy, and getting it centered on the lathe is the first big challenge. Turners usually mount a big log between centers first, so they can rough it round before switching to a chuck. In this video, the log was so large that it maxed out what the lathe could hold, which is where the title comes from. Big logs need a heavy, sturdy lathe bolted down, and the speed must start very low. Would you be brave enough to stand in front of it?

You will need: A heavy wood lathe rated for the size, a drive center and tail center, a face shield and a helper to lift the log.

How to make it: 1. Mark the center on both ends of the log. 2. Lift it onto the lathe with help. 3. Tighten the tail center firmly. 4. Spin it by hand to check it clears the tool rest.

Beech Log Woodturning Step 2: Roughing It Round

In beech log woodturning, roughing is the loud, messy part. With the lathe turning slowly, a large gouge takes off the bark and high spots until the log becomes a smooth cylinder. Thick chips pile up on the floor in no time. Turners keep the speed low because an uneven log shakes, and they always stand out of the line of fire in case anything flies off. A full face shield is a must. This is where the hidden spalting first starts to show. Can you imagine the smell of fresh beech?

You will need: A roughing gouge, a full face shield, a dust mask, sturdy clothes with no loose sleeves and a broom.

How to make it: 1. Start the lathe at its lowest speed. 2. Rest the gouge on the tool rest. 3. Take light cuts from the high spots. 4. Stop often to clear chips and check the shape.

The Tools That Do the Work

Woodturning uses a small set of long handled tools. Gouges with curved blades do most of the shaping, skew chisels leave a clean, smooth surface, and parting tools cut grooves and separate pieces. Beads are often cut with a small spindle gouge or a skew. Sharp tools are safer than dull ones, because they cut cleanly instead of catching. Most turners sharpen many times during one project. Which tool would you want to master first?

You will need: A roughing gouge, a spindle gouge, a bowl gouge, a skew chisel, a parting tool and a sharpening system.

How to make it: 1. Learn what each tool is for. 2. Keep every edge sharp. 3. Always rest the tool on the tool rest before it touches the wood. 4. Practice on scrap pieces first.

Step 3: Nibbling Away to Find the Shape

Instead of following a strict plan, the maker removes a little wood at a time and lets the log suggest the final form. Cracks, soft spots and the way the spalting runs all help decide where the curves go. Slowly, a tall bottle shape with a wide body and a narrow neck appears. It is a lesson that works for any craft: sometimes the material knows best. For more makers who learned by doing, see our story on Harrison Ford the carpenter.

You will need: Patience, sharp gouges, good light and the willingness to change your plan.

How to make it: 1. Take light cuts all along the piece. 2. Stop and step back to look at the shape. 3. Follow the grain and the spalting. 4. Refine the curves little by little.

Beech Log Woodturning Step 4: Cutting the Beads

The most striking part of the finished vase is its beads, rows of small rounded ridges wrapping the whole piece. Each bead is cut by rolling the tool from the top of the ridge down into a small groove on each side. Keeping dozens of them even is a real test of skill. When the dark spalting lines run across all those little ridges, the effect is mesmerizing. Beads also hide small flaws, which is a clever trick for tricky wood. Would you go for a few beads or cover the whole piece?

You will need: A small spindle gouge or a skew chisel, a pencil to mark the spacing and a lot of practice on scrap wood.

How to make it: 1. Mark evenly spaced lines with a pencil while the piece spins slowly. 2. Cut a small groove at each line. 3. Roll the tool to round each bead. 4. Keep them even from top to bottom.

Step 5: Shaping the Neck and Top

Next comes the delicate work at the top of the vase. The neck narrows, the rim is refined and the transitions between curves are smoothed. On many vases, turners also open up the top with a hollowing tool so the piece can hold dried flowers. Big pieces like this one are often held in a chuck by a short round spigot, which lets the turner work on the ends. It is slow, careful work where one catch could ruin hours of effort. Can you feel the tension?

You will need: A chuck, a spindle gouge, a hollowing tool if you want an opening, calipers and a face shield.

How to make it: 1. Hold the piece securely in a chuck. 2. Narrow the neck with light cuts. 3. Shape the rim. 4. Open the top with a hollowing tool if you want it to hold stems.

Step 6: Sanding Through the Grits

Sanding is where the vase starts to glow. With the lathe spinning slowly, the turner works through rougher sandpaper to finer grits, removing tool marks and softening every bead. Near the end of the video, he also sands the base with a power sander. Spalted wood can be soft in places, so light pressure keeps it from tearing. Fine dust is everywhere at this stage, so a good dust mask or extraction is important. How smooth would you go?

You will need: Sandpaper from 80 up to 400 grit, a dust mask, dust extraction if you have it and a soft brush.

How to make it: 1. Slow the lathe down. 2. Sand with the coarse grit first. 3. Move up through the finer grits. 4. Brush off the dust before finishing.

Beech Log Woodturning Step 7: An Oil Finish That Glows

A coat of oil changes everything. It soaks into the wood, deepens the color and makes the spalting lines look even darker and sharper, just like the glow on this turned bowl. The finished vase in the video looks golden and warm, almost like honey. Most turners wipe on thin coats and buff between them. Oily rags can heat up as they dry, so lay them flat outdoors before throwing them away. Do you prefer a matte or glossy finish?

You will need: A wood finishing oil, lint free cloths, fine sandpaper or a buffing pad and a safe place to dry used rags.

How to make it: 1. Wipe on a thin coat of oil. 2. Let it soak in, then wipe off the extra. 3. Let it dry and buff lightly. 4. Add more coats until you like the shine.

Why Spalted Wood Is So Prized

Spalted wood can be found in beech, maple, birch and other trees, and collectors love it because every piece carries its own one of a kind pattern. The black zone lines look almost like a map or a pen drawing. Turning it is tricky, since soft areas can tear, but the reward is a bowl or vase that nobody else in the world has. Many turners say they get excited every time they cut open a spalted log. What pattern would you hope to find?

You will need: A good eye for interesting wood, a stabilizing product for soft areas and a dust mask, since spalted dust should not be breathed in.

How to make it: 1. Look for logs with dark lines on the ends. 2. Check that the wood is still mostly firm. 3. Rough turn it while it is fresh. 4. Finish with oil to make the lines pop.

Try It: A Log Slice Tea Light Holder

No lathe? No problem. A short section of a small log makes a charming tea light holder. Drill a shallow hole in the top with a large drill bit, sand the edges and drop in a battery LED tea light for a safe, flickering glow. Make three in different heights for a pretty centerpiece. Use LED lights only, since real flames and dry wood do not mix. Who would you gift a set to?

You will need: A short dry log about three inches wide, a drill with a large spade or Forstner bit (adult use), sandpaper and battery LED tea lights.

How to make it: 1. Cut the log so it stands flat. 2. Clamp it and drill a shallow hole in the top. 3. Sand the edges smooth. 4. Add an LED tea light.

Try It: A Natural Edge Log Planter

A hollowed log filled with succulents brings a bit of that rustic woodturning charm to your porch or garden. Scoop out a channel along the top of a log with a chisel or drill, line it, add soil and plant small succulents. The bark stays on for a natural look, and the plants need very little water. It is a lovely weekend project for the whole family, with grown ups handling the tools. What would you plant in yours?

You will need: A log section, a drill and chisel (adult use), plastic liner, cactus potting mix, small succulents and small stones.

How to make it: 1. Mark a channel along the top of the log. 2. Drill and chisel out the wood. 3. Add a liner with a few drain holes. 4. Fill with soil and plant the succulents.