Mudtools Do-All Trim Tool: Double Ended Pottery Trimming Tool for Wheel Throwing, Made in The USA Review (2026)

Who reaches for the Do-All

The Do-All is designed for wheel throwers who trim regularly enough to want one dependable tool instead of a drawer full of loop tools in slightly different shapes. Mudtools describes it as inspired by the Japanese kanna trim tool, reworked over years by founder Michael Sherrill to suit a wider range of trimming needs on bowls, tea bowls and plates. Because it leans on a sharpened cutting edge rather than a thin wire loop, it favors potters who like a crisp, controlled cut when defining a foot ring rather than a soft scraping action. Beginners can use it, but the learning curve on a sharpened spade edge is a little steeper than with a simple wire loop tool, so potters who have trimmed a season or two of pots will get the most out of switching to it.

What the two ends actually do

According to Mudtools, the Do-All has a sharpened kanna spade shape on one end that gives a precise cutting edge, which the maker specifically calls out as useful for working details around the foot of tea bowls, bowls and plates where a clean, defined line matters. The other end is a curled loop that combines a broad surface for smoothing wider areas with a tighter curve for detail trimming in smaller sections. This double ended layout means a potter can rough-trim excess clay with the loop end, flip the tool, and refine the foot ring or a carved detail with the spade end without setting it down. The tool is made of metal and is sold as part of Mudtools' core lineup of trimming tools made in the USA.

Living with a kanna style trim tool

Mudtools recommends keeping the metal clean and wiping the tool with wax or oil to keep the cutting edge in top condition, which matters more with a sharpened spade edge than with a blunter loop tool, since a dulled or rusted edge changes how cleanly it cuts through leather hard clay. The company also points buyers toward a dedicated sharpening guide from Sherrill for maintaining the edge over time, which is a fair signal that this is a tool meant to be sharpened and kept rather than replaced once dull. Day to day, that means a quick wipe after each studio session rather than leaving it wet in a tool bucket, and an occasional pass on a sharpening stone as the edge wears with regular use trimming stoneware or porcelain.

How it compares with other trimming tools

Against budget double ended metal trimmers like the Mojiteor three pack or single stainless tools from smaller sellers, the Do-All costs more for one tool than a small multi-piece set, which is the clearest tradeoff buyers face. What that extra cost buys is a specific, considered profile designed by a working potter rather than a generic loop shape stamped out in bulk, plus a US-made edge that Mudtools stands behind with sharpening guidance. Compared with the Xiem Studio round loop tool, which is a simpler single-profile loop, the Do-All offers two distinct cutting actions in one handle, which suits potters who trim a variety of forms rather than one repeated shape. For someone just starting out who mainly needs to clean a flat foot ring on mugs, a cheaper multi-tool set may cover the basics just as well.

Bottom line

The Do-All earns our score of 8.9 out of 10 as a well considered, made in USA trimming tool from a maker with a strong reputation among working potters, and its double ended design genuinely reduces how many tools you need within reach at the trimming stage. It suits potters who trim often enough to notice the difference a sharp, purpose-built edge makes on foot rings and detail work. Potters on a tight budget, or those who trim only occasionally, may get more value from a multi-piece set that covers several shapes for less than the price of this single tool. Anyone ready to commit to one high quality trimming tool and willing to maintain its edge will likely find it earns a permanent spot on the tray.

Frequently asked questions