Mudpuppy Custom Creations

A Bit About Our Corn Hole Boards...

So, what exactly goes into a quality set of corn hole boards? Short answer: ALOT! You can buy a cheaper set of boards from a number of vendors. Some better than others, some with applied decals, some made with less expensive materials, some that may last a few years, depending on how much you use them and take care of them. But we take an enormous amount of pride in our boards to ensure that you get every pennies worth and they will last for years to come. Read on to learn the difference.

Materials:

What corn hole boards are made of is the most important aspect of any set of boards. Most boards are made of 1/2 inch, or sometimes thinner, materials for their decks. This results in bounce by the bags when they hit the boards, as well as not having the durability to withstand years of use. All of our custom boards are made with the highest quality 3/4 inch sanded cabinet grade hardwood plywood (See image below). What that means is you get a sturdy, durable board with NO BOUNCE in the bags. While we do offer a less inexpensive option made with 1/2 inch decks, our custom boards are made for those who intend to use their boards frequently and will withstand years of use. Other types of materials can be used upon request, such as 3/4 inch maple or red oak plywood (see the "Legacy Project" boards in the Corn Hole Board Gallery). They make for a absolutely beautiful set of boards, but do add to the weight a bit.

Frames and legs are constructed of select clear pine, or can be customized with maple, oak or poplar. Pricing will vary depending on lumber species, availability and seasonal cost.

Construction:

All of our custom boards are constructed so that they "nest" together. This means that one board's frame is slightly smaller than the other, so that it can be flipped over, and it will slide into the interior of the larger frame resulting in a compact and convenient way of transporting and storing your boards as well as the legs and bags too! There are dedicated compartments for both in the inner board. They only take up the space of a single board. The carrying "handle" is a cutout in both of the boards that line up when nested together. No external handles to get caught on things or a weak point to break off. Frames and decks are glued and pocket hole screwed together resulting in a permanent bond. No need to worry about them coming apart. All of it is kept securely together by a high strength nylon strap that cinches tight.

Decoration:

Custom Corn Hole Boards can be as simple as a natural wood color or a single color, to as elaborate as you can imagine. They are as varied as the people that play. That is what makes them so personal to people. We don't use stickers or heat transfers on our custom boards. They are all individually designed to your specifications, then hand colored with custom stains and coloring techniques. This ensures a permeant colorfastness as well as allowing the natural beauty of the unique wood grain of every piece of wood to show through the color. Paint can be applied for a more vibrant color, but does not let the woods natural beauty shine through, therefore is only used upon request. Frames can be decorated as well. Its your imagination...let it run!

We here at Mudpuppy Custom Creations value the varied nature and grain patterns of all the different species of wood and do all we can to allow it to accentuate everything we make. Please visit our custom corn hole board gallery to see samples of the some of the designs we have made so far.

Finish:

What you put on your boards to protect them is nearly as important as what they are made out of. We use a HVLP spray gun to apply a minimum of 5 coats of quality name brand water based polyurethane on every board we make. Now, you may say "What about something more durable, like epoxy resin, like on a bar top?" Well...we tried that. While it does provide superior sealing and good protection, it has a major drawback. Once the finish gets scratched by sand, dirty bags getting thrown on it, and normal wear and tear, they have to be sanded down and the epoxy reapplied. This is a very time consuming and expensive process and once done, the epoxy takes 48-72 hours to fully cure, depending on temperature and humidity. Water based poly has a hard, durable finish, a beautiful shine, resists scratches and moisture, is much more UV resistant, is much easier to work with and apply, is much lighter than epoxy, but most importantly, if it gets scratched, it can easily be sanded and a new coat applied in a matter of minutes. And usually cures within 24 hours. Epoxy is also very expensive and you don't get nearly as much coverage out of a gallon of epoxy as you do from a gallon of poly. With all that being said, NOTHING will keep your boards from getting damaged if you leave them outside for extended periods of time, especially in high moisture areas or rain. if you do that, you have no one to blame but yourself!

Conclusion:

"You Get What You Pay For". We have all heard that adage before. And as with anything else, quality matters. You can buy a cheaper set of boards, but why? We strive to make boards that last years, and be the last set of boards you will have to buy. Below is a photo from a local retail store selling mass produced, "inexpensive" corn hole boards. Made with cheap, inferior materials and not made in the USA. We take great pride in our craftsmanship and the fact that all of our materials are sourced from local lumber stores, and in some cases, Amish saw mills. Right here in America. As a veteran owned company, that means everything to us.

Please Note: Bags are NOT included with corn hole board sets.

Maple

Oak

Poplar

Above photos are representative of their respective wood species. Color and grain pattern will vary.

Please note that poplar is not a "hardwood". While it is harder than most softwoods, such as pine, it is considered a "soft hardwood" and will still dent and scratch easier than true hardwood species.