Violin soundposts and other stories

Hideously frustrating little dowels of wood, a bugger to fit and set. My firs one took me 3 soundposts and over two hours ( and a headache ! ) even after finding the damn tool ! I recently came across these two websites which give good information about this dastardly pastime.. THIS ONE ( though incomplete ) offers a nifty diagram...( above )

and THIS one show you the tool needed and how to use the bugger.

The tool has a sharp pointy end bit that you stick into the post itself. It still takes some practice but I would love to know how they did this WITHOUT one of these tools...