From the pages of How to Make Coopering Tools, my first foray into toolmaking was the Pillar Post Croze.
Build Process
Completed Tool
The finished croze was built using hardwoods for strength and durability: olive wood for the wedges, zebrawood for the handles, and mahogany for the tenon.
Field Test
This tool saw its first real use at an Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) event—FOOL—during a bucket-making class.
Overall, the tool held together structurally, which I consider a win for a first build. That said, there were a few challenges:
The metal blades loosened and fell out several times Rather than cutting a continuous groove like a traditional croze, it scored consistent lines around the bucket This required an extra chiseling step, which slowed things down for students The tool behaved more like a saw on each stave than a true croze It didn’t move smoothly in a circular motion around the bucket
I suspect part of the issue came from the bucket itself—the interior and exterior hadn’t been fully smoothed yet (tools for that are still on my list).
Final Thoughts
For a first attempt at toolmaking, I’d call this project a success. It worked, it taught me a lot, and it highlighted exactly where improvements are needed for the next version.
Disclaimer: This blog is a place to document my projects, ideas, and experiments. I’m here to learn and share—not to win any writing awards.
By Stave & Hoop 