Cornhole Cornhole

159 responses so far ↓

• 1 jeff1947 // May 15, 2007 at 2:47 pm

  Seems also if you leave your bags out overnight, a corn-loving animal may make off with them. I now have to make a new set of bags because some critter took one and ran into the woods with it!

• 2 Ryan // Jun 8, 2007 at 3:08 pm

  When filling the bags with corn, what type of corn is actually used, popcorn or real corn?

• 3 admin // Jun 10, 2007 at 9:05 pm

  Whole (not cracked) animal feed corn is the most popular corn used as bag fill. Have fun!

• 4 Duane // Jun 16, 2007 at 10:10 am

  Seem’s like the new bags I have have too much dust. We have trouble because the bags are so slick. We can’t keep them on the boards at all. I was wondering if there was a way to accelerate the reduction of the dust to get the bags to stick a little bit better.

• 5 Eric // Jun 16, 2007 at 1:26 pm

  Hi Duane,

  I would suggest is maybe beating your bags against you sidewalk. This should roughen the outside of your bags and start to break down the corn. Slick bags really hard to adjust to.

• 6 Kristy // Jun 18, 2007 at 1:34 pm

  Hi all! Couple of questions….When filling your bags, what should the moisture content of the corn be? We were thinking less than 12%, but wanted to check for official numbers. Also, what are the dimensions of the bags and are there specific weight requirements when filling? Thanks!

• 7 Heather // Jun 19, 2007 at 10:51 pm

  I was wondering what size the demensions of the cornhole bags should be. I know they are to be made of the “duck cloth ” . Also, they are supposed to weigh a pound too, right?

• 8 Eric // Jun 20, 2007 at 10:48 pm

  Hello all,

  Cornhole bags should be one pound in weight. Duck cloth is the most preferred material choice. Bag dimensions should be 6″x6″. As for the moisture content, I wouldn’t worry much about the moisture %. Feed corn sold retail is the most recommended choice. You can pick it up at Tractor Supply or even Wal-Mart.

  Have fun building!!

• 9 RW // Jun 23, 2007 at 5:46 pm

  I’m having the same problem that Duane mentioned. The new bags I just purchased are giving off more dust than any other set I’ve played with in over 5 years.

  It’s more like air hockey than cornhole. I went from 90% on the boards to around 10%. There has to be something wrong with the corn. Any ideas as to what could be wrong?

• 10 Eric // Jun 24, 2007 at 9:32 am

  Could it be that the bags were filled with cracked corn rather than whole kernel corn?

• 11 vanessa // Jun 26, 2007 at 12:07 am

  1. it says double stitched for the bags, does that mean 2 seams on the inside before you turn them right side outwards or topstitched on the outside after you turn them right side outwards
  2. do you have to have two squares sewed together or can you cut one rectangle, fold in half, and just have to sew up three sides

• 12 Eric // Jun 26, 2007 at 8:42 pm

  Hi Vanessa,

  1. Two seams on the inside before you turn y0ur fabric rite side outwards.
  2. Folding the rectangle will work just fine.

  Enjoy your game!!

• 13 Suzi // Jun 27, 2007 at 2:39 pm

  From reading on the official cornhole site it says the basg should weigh between 14 and 16 ounces.

  Question on stitching….one site I checked out said to stitch the bags again on the outside. I have never seen bags like this before. Do you know if this is common at all?

  Thanks,
  Suzi

• 14 Eric // Jun 27, 2007 at 9:24 pm

  Hi Suzi,

  You got it on the weight. One pound is the standard bag weight.

  I have never seen or played with bags that were stiched on the outside. Seems odd, but I guess you similar outcome. However, most bags are stiched on the inside and the last edge or corner is sewn on the outside.

  Hope this helps!

• 15 Shawn // Jul 1, 2007 at 12:40 pm

  What kind of dust do u use and how much?

• 16 Shawn // Jul 1, 2007 at 12:42 pm

  What type of dust do u put in the bags and how much?

• 17 Eric // Jul 1, 2007 at 8:26 pm

  Hello Shawn,

  Sorry for the confusion. The dust isn’t something you add to the bags. It is just eventually created over time after playing with you bags. When the corn breaks down it creates a dust.

• 18 Gary M // Jul 3, 2007 at 8:24 pm

  i read 12oz

• 19 Diane // Jul 4, 2007 at 9:40 am

  We built our own boards and painted them with exterior latex paint. We applied a spray clear gloss finish, but the boards are not slippery. The bags will not slide. Any suggestions to get them moving? We’ve put a lot of time and money into the paint and want to use the boards. thanks for any feedback.

• 20 Eric // Jul 4, 2007 at 9:49 am

  Hi Diane,
  Was the surface of your boards smooth to start with? A low grade plywood might have too rough a surface. Your paint choices seem fine. It could be your bags. Will they slide on other boards? You might read some notes above about bag suggestions. Keep in mind that some slide is good, but you might regret if you really get your boards moving. It really is a lot more difficult to play on really slick boards.

• 21 Rob // Jul 9, 2007 at 8:51 am

  Diane,
  Just take some normal paste wax (minwax or Jonstons paste wax found at home depot) to the board – that will slick it up.

  You can even try automotive wax.

• 22 mark // Jul 10, 2007 at 1:03 pm

  adding clear gloss should be done in several thin layers and fine sanded between each coating.3 or4 coats seems idea for me.we like a slick board because it adds to the fun and competition of the game.furniture polish will make your board slick.if your bags are make to small and you put one pound of corn in them,there fat and they will roll in stead of slide.

• 23 james // Jul 16, 2007 at 11:13 pm

  any idea what the rough % of players using whole kernal corn vs. plastic corn pellets is?

  I think I prefer a heavier bag and the kernal corn is 16 oz vs. the plastic corn at 14 oz

  I’ve never seen anyone get a lot of slide with their bags so the dust doesn’t really seem to do much but … create dust and cloud up your board … plus, I want my bags to stick where they land with minimal slide – just like a good golf shot

  I just can’t decide which way to go …

• 24 Eric // Jul 17, 2007 at 9:09 pm

  James,

  In Cincinnati, there is definitely a preference for corn filled bags. I would say at least 90% of the bags in this region are filled with corn.

  In the end it still just comes down to preference.

  Hope that helps!

• 25 Bill // Jul 25, 2007 at 8:31 pm

  Were can you buy the plastic pellet a

  Bill

• 26 Eric // Jul 27, 2007 at 9:29 pm

  Hi Bill,

  Try Micheals, the arts and crafts store.

• 27 Carane // Aug 6, 2007 at 9:04 pm

  Are the corn bags 6″ X 6″ before they are stuffed or after they are stuffed with the corn?

• 28 Eric // Aug 6, 2007 at 11:03 pm

  Hello Carane,

  Bags should be 6″x6″ after they are stuffed, 7″x7″ before.

• 29 Linda // Aug 31, 2007 at 11:10 pm

  If I am making the bags out of duck cloth would it be good to wash the material first to soften it a little or would that ot work.

• 30 Eric // Sep 8, 2007 at 11:02 pm

  Great idea Linda! I don’t see any trouble with that at all. I haven’t washed the material in the past, but I think that might help soften it just as you suspect.

• 31 Matt // Sep 15, 2007 at 5:50 pm

  So I’ve seen instructions to stitch the bags with 1/4 inch seams and 1/2 inch seams. I’ve got 7 inch squares cut out. I’m guessing you would probably just want 1/4 inch seams so that you take up about 1/2 inch of the width resulting in a bag that is approximately 6 & 1/2 inches before filling. Is this correct?

• 32 Eric // Sep 15, 2007 at 9:27 pm

  You got it Matt!! Then, after you fill the bag you’ll end up with 6″x6″ bag.

• 33 Connie // Sep 28, 2007 at 1:23 am

  DON’T WASH the duck cloth. I tried to wash and dye some material for a certain color and it totally unraveled.

• 34 Eric // Sep 29, 2007 at 8:28 am

  I think the key to washing the material would be to first run a hem around the outside to keep it from falling apart. Either way, it’s not really necessary to wash the material first. It really doesn’t take that much game play to break them in.

• 35 Jamie // Sep 30, 2007 at 4:20 pm

  What exactly is duck cloth and where can you find it?

• 36 Eric // Sep 30, 2007 at 9:38 pm

  Hello Jamie,

  Duck cloth is just a type of canvas. It should be able to be found at any fabric store.

• 37 Gary // Oct 9, 2007 at 9:18 am

  What about sand for bag fill?…. or is this grounds for eternal cornhole banishment?

• 38 Eric // Oct 10, 2007 at 9:23 pm

  Hey Gary,

  LOL. I say banishment! Just kidding. I think you might just loose a lot of the fill over time through the fabric. Not really sure though. I have never tried it.

• 39 John // Oct 18, 2007 at 11:16 pm

  Do you know where I can find large decals or stickers for the boards.Do you think it would effect the slid of the boards?

• 40 Eric // Oct 21, 2007 at 8:40 am

  Hi John,

  You could try a local print shop for decals. Most of them can print/cut just about anything from vinyl. A local sports shop should also have decals of your favorite team if that’s what your after.

  Vinyl is pretty slick and will still allow your bags to slide. You could also apply a clear lacquer if you want to protect the decals and be sure to keep some good slide. Check this post out for comments on lacquer.

  http://www.cornholecornhole.com/how-to-choose-the-perfect-material-for-your-cornhole-boards

  Has anybody else seen a great place online to find decals?

• 41 sarah // Oct 24, 2007 at 3:57 pm

  so in making the bags, do you have to sew the final side by hand (stitching inside the bag so you don’t see the seam from the outside) after you have turned the bag inside right and filled it with corn? and if so, how do you create the double seam on that final side?

• 42 Eric // Oct 24, 2007 at 9:45 pm

  Sarah,

  Sounds like you have the idea. Double stitch 3 sides and about half of the fourth while inside out. Turn them right side out. Fill them. Then hand stitch the last few inches of the last edge to finish them off.

• 43 Charlene // Dec 20, 2007 at 1:05 pm

  I put pea gravel in my bags. That way thay don’t mildew, if they get wet . Also if left in garage the mice will not eat them.

• 44 becky // Jan 13, 2008 at 1:07 pm

  Our Wal-Mart here has the duck cloth for $4.97 a yard.60″ wide. (Some Wal-marts have eliminated their fabric department.) Their color choices are pretty limited. They had navy, white, red, black, natural, and two others, I can’t remember.We needed gray and they didn’t have it. I don’t recomend washing the fabric as it washes out the finish on the fabric and isn’t as professional looking a job. It’s not like you are going to need it pre-shrunk. We got our whole kernal feed corn at the feed store for $5.15 for 25 pounds.

  Jo-Ann has it for 6.99 a yard- 60′ wide, but we are on their mailing list, so we had a coupon, and they had the colors I needed. I used 1/4 yd. of two different colors, for a total of 1/2 yard fabric. We made ours scarlet and gray for somewhat obvious reasons. We live in Columbus OH

• 45 chris // Apr 2, 2008 at 3:45 pm

  I want to experiment with plastic pellets in my bags. anyone have ideas on where i can get pellets that will fit in the 6″ bags and also weight 1lb?

• 46 Eric // Apr 5, 2008 at 10:27 am

  Chris,
  You should be able to find plastic pellets at your local arts and crafts store. Michael’s or Hobby Lobby will have them. 3/8 or 1/4 inch will work well.

• 47 Peggy // May 7, 2008 at 6:35 pm

  I made the beanbags using directions on the internet, but the seams broke. I was told to use 1/4″ seam allowance on all 4 sides. This is too shallow as the edges unravelled. I think 1/2″ seam allowance is better. What size needle should be used? I used a jean weight and I think it make too big a hole for the thread. Any suggestions? I have to make a new set. Also, my daughter only wants me to fill the bags to 14oz. Will this be enough? Should the bags be flimsy or stuffed?

• 48 SuzieQ // May 7, 2008 at 6:39 pm

  This game rocks

• 49 Eric // May 7, 2008 at 10:27 pm

  Hi Peggy,
  You really don’t need a big needle if you use duck cloth. It’s pretty easy to work with. I haven’t used denim before but I imagine it isn’t much harder to work with. I would stick with the 16oz. Most will prefer it as it’s really the standard weight. It really depends on who’s playing. I am surprised you had that problem with the 1/4″. Make sure you are double stitching.

• 50 Highlife4me // May 8, 2008 at 6:32 am

  Anyone know how long this game has been around. I built my 1st set over 15 yrs ago.

• 51 Jim // May 26, 2008 at 6:46 pm

  I know there are many places to obtain a set of Corn Hole boards but is there any where to purchase a really beautiful set. Other than making my own.

  Thanks!

• 52 Linda // Jun 3, 2008 at 9:49 pm

  I came across a good buy on 4 lb. pinto beans , so I thought I would give them a try. I know it isn’t bean-hole, but the bags are filled and I want to give them to my step-son for his upcoming birthday. (He made his own board, but doesn’t have any bags.) This is the first I have heard about the dust. Wonder if the beans will make dust? Also I double-bagged these. How many rules did I break?

• 53 Eric // Jun 3, 2008 at 9:57 pm

  LOL Linda….The number rule is have fun playing Cornhole!

• 54 Tim // Jun 7, 2008 at 9:59 pm

  Hey, I just made a board and made the hole 7″ wide. Should I make the bags 8″ X 8″ prestitch and 7″ X 7″ afterwards to match the size of the hole?

• 55 Eric // Jun 8, 2008 at 4:11 pm

  Hey there Tim,
  The standard final bag size is 6×6″. You’d start with 7×7″ of material and use a 1/4″ seam. When the bag is filled it results in a 6×6″ bag.

• 56 stephanie // Jun 13, 2008 at 10:42 pm

  i have no idea where you can get corn feed. i live in royal oak, MI. does anyone know where you can find it??

• 57 Eric // Jun 14, 2008 at 10:51 pm

  Stephanie,
  Tractor Supply has feed corn if you have one nearby. You can also probably find it in the bird/squirrel feed section of your local superstore. It probably wouldn’t be as cheap but they should have it.

• 58 Peg // Jun 29, 2008 at 3:03 pm

  I purchased a cornhole set but my son thought the bags were too light. I purchased a food scale and it works great to check the weight. I got to your sight to find out the offical weight. I need to add weight to the purchased set and I plan on using the plastic pellets to avoid bugs and mice.
  I sew, and I think there is a discrepancy about the seam size that people have talked about. Cut the pieces to 7″x7″. Sew 1/2″ seams. Start 1 inch before the first corner, sew the other three sided and go another inch on the fourth side. Re-sew the exact way but at 1/4″ (this reinforces the seams so that they don’t burst). Turn the bags inside out, fill, and then you can machine sew or hand stitch the opening. With 1/2″ seams on each side you end up with a 6×6 bag (1/2″ on each side makes the bag 1″ smaller . If you only use the 1/4″ seam the material will pull apart under stress (and your bags will end up at 6-1/2 x 6-1/2). Hope this helps. And thanks for the info on the weight – I’m off to Michaels now!

• 59 travis // Jul 2, 2008 at 2:48 pm

  A lot of plastic pellets are hydroscopic,which means they absorbe moisture the bags with plastic pellets would vary in weight,in different climates.

• 60 Les // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:40 am

  I found the feed corn at Tractor Supply. They had 50lb sacks for less than $20. I didn’t need that much so I bought 11lb bags that I found in the bird feed section for about $6. I would use 50lbs eventually, but my concern was storing it and attracting mice, bug, etc.

• 61 Nathan // Jul 7, 2008 at 7:44 pm

  So, I live in Orlando and I have been searching far and wide at all the local arts and crafts stores, but I cannot find any plastic pellets anywhere. People keep pointing me in the direction of bean bag filling which is far to small. I was hoping that someone might have some insight on the Orlando area, so that I may be pointed in the right direction. Or if anyone has any ideas as to an alternative to filling with plastic pellets that is not corn feed or beans, that would suffice also.

  Thanks!

  Nate

• 62 Adam // Jul 11, 2008 at 3:11 pm

  I made my boards and Painted them with an exterior semi gloss paint. The paint seems a little “sticky” and the bags dont slide as well. I asked around and was told that exterior paints are made to be more elastic to hold up to the elements and that is what causes the “sticky” feel. It is better to use interior paint or spray paint that dries hard.
  My bags have held up well and to break them in faster I threw them in the dryer on no heat and bounced them around in there for 20 mins!
  It gets the dust going and loosens up the cloth.

• 63 Eric // Jul 15, 2008 at 6:47 am

  Hi Nathan,
  You might just search around on the net. Here is one place I found. http://www.dollstuffing.com/

• 64 Eric // Jul 15, 2008 at 7:07 am

  Hey Adam,
  Sometimes really cheap or old paint could have some trouble, but in general exterior latex paints will eventually dry hard. After you play with your bags and boards for a short time, and break everything in, you’ll notice they get slicker. Great idea to throw your bags in the dryer!

• 65 Bonnie // Aug 6, 2008 at 11:41 am

  We are a custom uphlostry store and have many fabric remants. Do you think that type of fabric would hold up to corn hole tossing?

• 66 Eric // Aug 10, 2008 at 9:49 pm

  Hi Bonnie,
  Hard telling really without seeing it, but my guess is it’s pretty tough stuff. Most upholstery is made to hold up to a lot of abuse. It’s probably worth a try if you’re just using left overs.

• 67 Denise Meyer // Aug 23, 2008 at 8:21 pm

  Thanks for everyone’s ideas and suggestions. My daughter is an Occupational Therapy Grad student and she is making a Cornhole game for the Rehabiliation Center of the hospital she is doing her clinicals at. They will use the game as therapy for their patients. I love the suggestion about the plastic pellets as some of the patients may have allergies!

• 68 John Freeborn // Aug 24, 2008 at 8:19 pm

  Apparently I am using the wrong stitching on the cornhole bags or not doing something correctly since the bags are unraffling at the seams when being used. Can you tell me what I need to do to correct this problem. Thank you

• 69 Pat // Aug 25, 2008 at 7:06 pm

  How do you keep the material from pulling apart? The bags I made are not coming apart at the stitches, but the material has pulled apart at the stitches. I have tried double stitching and the duck canvas is still ripping at the stitch line.Thanks for any help!

• 70 Linda // Aug 25, 2008 at 8:09 pm

  Duck material is very prone to unraveling very easily. What is happening is the corn is rubbing against the edges of the material and unraveling it making it look like it is pulling apart at the stitches. I usually zigzag the edges of the material or serge it to stop it from raveling.

• 71 David // Aug 28, 2008 at 2:03 pm

  ok, I have only seen/played on baggo purchaseds boards. It seems these are smaller, (2′ x 3′) is this true. what is the difference? I plan to make a set and I am curious what I should be building because around this area most people are playing with these purchased sets…. does this make any sense to you?

• 72 Craig // Aug 29, 2008 at 8:26 am

  A possible hint: put the corn in plastic sandwich bags and then place in cloth bag before closure. Prevents moisture from getting to the corn. Personally, it seems the plastic bag would break down easily from the friction and pounding.

• 73 Nikoli // Aug 29, 2008 at 12:02 pm

  I’ve been making bags for a few years. Started out single stitching, which ended up ripping after one or two games. Tried double stitching, a little better but still blew out a few bags right away. Now I always triple stitch, seems to have solved the ripping issue. Also DO NOT overfill them, the bags will just bounce off the boards…and even get stuck in the hole! Filling by feel seems to work best, you know when you have a good fill, it just feels right.

• 74 Chris // Sep 3, 2008 at 9:23 pm

  I stored my 8 cornhole bags in a bag in a closet in our house. I guess the humid summer was bad and all the cornhole bags grew mold. Any suggestions for storing them and keeping them dry?

• 75 david // Sep 18, 2008 at 6:40 pm

  hint. make sure to use a strong thread when sewing your bags,and it is very important that you use large stitches.im refering of the numbers of stitches per inch. to of little of stitches,will weaken the seam. thanks. david J.

• 76 patricia // Sep 22, 2008 at 8:08 am

  i cut my fabric at 14×7 that way you only have3 seams. I also used my seal-a-meal to seal the corn in prevents moisture getting to the corn, Cut the plastic bags at 6×6 fill with corn seal. DO (NOT USE VACUM SETTING). THESE WORK GREAT WITHOUT THE DUST COMMING OUT.

• 77 Eric // Oct 10, 2008 at 10:46 pm

  Chris – A big Tupperware container should do the trick.

• 78 Eric // Oct 10, 2008 at 10:49 pm

  Great idea Patricia!

• 79 Eric // Oct 10, 2008 at 10:55 pm

  Hey David – Baggo boards are smaller than than standard 2×4 ft boards. It probably depends on where you live and who’s playing on what. The standard sized boards are preferred all around Cincinnati without a doubt. I would think this is true of most other places as well. If you are looking to play the true game of Cornhole, you’ll want to make 2×4 ft boards.

• 80 Gary // Jan 1, 2009 at 11:07 pm

  I make my own boards and bags for gifts.
  I use 1/2 inch plywood and 1 x 4 sides. Paint a one inch color around the edge and then clear gloss polyurethane over the entire board. Four to five coats makes for a slick, fun filled game. The bags are duck cloth with whole feed corn. Have never had problems with coming apart. Use double stiching. Just finished my 6th set as gifts. Have fun!!

• 81 Brandon // Mar 21, 2009 at 6:55 pm

  What kind of thread do I need to use?

  Thanks!!

• 82 Eric // Mar 24, 2009 at 9:24 pm

  Hey Brandon,
  Not too sure about the different thread material types but just look for thread labeled “heavy duty”. This sort of thread is used for upholstery jobs and that sort of thing. It will hold up best to the abuse the bags take.

• 83 Pat // Apr 17, 2009 at 1:17 pm

  Making corn hole bags. Someone suggested putting the corn on a baking pan and putting it in the oven at 250 for an hour so you do not get bugs. Does anyone know anything about this?

• 84 Margaret // Apr 26, 2009 at 9:09 pm

  We left our bags in a tupperware/rubbermaid type conatiner in our garage and they got extremely moldy. I guess you should leave them inside where the moisture won’t get to them

• 85 ronnie // May 6, 2009 at 8:24 pm

  can anybody help me ,i was wondering if team decals are a better way to make youre board ,or buy stickers ,and spray with a gloss sealer? thanks

• 86 sarah // May 13, 2009 at 7:32 pm

  where can you purchase corn filled bags? I live in Greenville, SC.

  A tip for storing your corn filled bags put them in the freezer. (or frig.)

• 87 BRUCE // May 17, 2009 at 10:44 pm

  HELP! GOT BUGS IN MY HOME MADE BAGS.
  (48 OF THEM) WHAT TO DO. MADE OF FEED CORN. LITTLE BLACK BUGS THAT LOOK LIKE PEPPER. FREEZER OR OVEN TO KILL THEM? MABY INJECT THEM WITH ?.

• 88 gail // May 22, 2009 at 10:59 pm

  The first time I put together my bags I used the corn. They didn’t last the season because they got left out over night several times and got moldy. This time I used pea gravel. I’ve got the same “feel” as the corn plus the dust that you want too. Works for us!

• 89 peter // May 29, 2009 at 3:55 pm

  for storing bags:
  to avoid moisture, store them in a container and put rice in the container with them (as do people with pepper shakers). The rice should absorb any moisture.

  I am also wondering how to get a “team decal” on my boards. Should I get stickers, and just paint a clear coat over them? I am using a polyurethane finish. (normal gloss level)

• 90 Capt. Rick // Jun 11, 2009 at 12:39 pm

  Still wondering if anyone knows where game originated and what you do for that bug problem

• 91 Grace H. // Jun 14, 2009 at 10:12 pm

  I don’t know what pellets you were originally intending, but maybe consider the pellets for air-soft type toy guns…
  Personally, I’m off to try out aquarium gravel – it should still ‘dust’ without the mold and critter issues.

• 92 Travis // Jun 15, 2009 at 10:25 am

  The game is cornhole.not pelletthole,not gravelhole.Put corn in bags and take care of them.

• 93 Lizzy // Jun 15, 2009 at 7:41 pm

  Hey Capt Rick? Placing things in the freezer WILl kill the bugs, just as putting Animal Food such as Dog Food in the Freezer to kill any ants that have ants in it. ….ALSO: for anyone that knows how to sew, doing a FRENCH SEAM is the Perfect way to re-enforce the seams with Heavy Duty Thread. (you can always double stitch it, but do a French Seam, this finishes it to where there is absolutely NO threads inside or out !!!!!! also DO not wash the DUCK CLOTH, you can always spray a repellent on the finished product, to protect the fabric.

• 94 Myron // Jul 5, 2009 at 7:38 pm

  I stored my bags in a cooler over the winter – thought they were completely dry (they were new), and ended up with moldy bags this summer. Anybody have a solution for cleaning them – or do I need to get/make new bags?

• 95 Jana // Jul 7, 2009 at 12:24 am

  Using popcorn to fill the bags has worked best ’round this neck of the woods. It does not soften / mildew easily AT ALL. It doesn’t make dust either, but you really don’t need the dust if you keep the boards sanded. Ya’ll have fun now ya corn hole-ers!!!

• 96 ronnie // Jul 7, 2009 at 2:01 pm

  how do you keep the bags from busting from hitting the corners of the board

• 97 Lizzy // Jul 7, 2009 at 2:16 pm

  Hey Ronnie? um, they won’t break, also, you can make a bag inside a bag with Musilin, fill that bag with the corn, then your outter layer with Duct Cloth, and if you do the seams right they won’t bust open. see my comment above about french seams, Now go have fun playing,,,,

• 98 Justine // Jul 7, 2009 at 7:28 pm

  I’ve used Sunbrella (solution dyed acrylic) for many outdoor projects…..it’s now “standard” for umbrellas, cushion covers, etc. It’s been used in the marine environment for years since it does NOT mildew (only natural fiber fabric mildews) – also water repellent.
  Joann Fabrics carries it – expensive but you need only a small quantity. It’s like cotton “duck” but is softer and wears like iron. Maybe that type of fabric would solve the problems mentioned above?

• 99 LIZZY // Jul 8, 2009 at 10:44 am

  OOPS on me , I wrote DUCT above LOL, Hey Justine I will try this fabric for my next set, thanks for a suggestion…also they have a seam glue, (for those worried about the frayed ends), better yet, french seam them or surge them, if you are a seamstress…..We have a HUGE tournament next week, so I am slicking up my boards again with Wax….

• 100 Kelly // Jul 8, 2009 at 4:37 pm

  Hey ya’ll. I was just readin’ these posts and noticing a lot of folks having problems during storage…there’s a handy little gadget wal-mart sells called a Reynolds Handy Vac. It’s bout $10.00 and works like a dream…Gotta use their bags and vaccuum seal your corn bags inside. You make sure your bags are dry first and keep out all air and you cannot possibly grow mold, mildew or bugs. Those pests all need warm moist air to grow. If there is any doubt, you could put them in the freezer while being stored. Best thing bout vaccuum sealing is the bags are reusable over and over…hope this helps.

• 101 Kelly // Jul 8, 2009 at 4:42 pm

  Also the Handy Vac is portable hand-held and runs on double A batteries so you can take it with you to tourneys and travel so even away from home you don’t have a dry storage problem.

• 102 Kelly // Jul 8, 2009 at 4:53 pm

  Oh, and a bit of history – Cornhole was created in the Ohio Valley area using corn on a modified bean-bag toss board. It was made using corn bags “originally” because it was the cheapest most readily available “stuffing” (being born in the corn-belt region). I say originally because now cornhole has spread and does not have to stick to it’s regional boundaries and because cornhole is a modified bean-bag game in which there were beans in the bags. For Travis especially; the filling only matters during serious tournaments. The rest of us just need to get the right feel using the right material to create the right level of fill. Someone may actually come up with the wonderful ability to make plastic “corn” shaped pellets with exact weight per kernel using recycled milk jugs…wouldn’t that be resourceful?

• 103 travis // Jul 8, 2009 at 10:58 pm

  I had a man at the ag store tell me if he knew what i was using the corn for he wouldnt sell it to me, Is their a shortage of corn. Kelly your right you can use what you want for bags. Reground milk bottles would work,If you repelitized it corn size. You would have to make a lot of bags to make it profitable

• 104 debbie // Jul 13, 2009 at 12:57 am

  can i just use the popping corn to make my bags with?

• 105 travis // Jul 13, 2009 at 11:39 am

  My first bags were pop corn. They didnt have the right feel, no dust from popcorn, But they worked, and if you get mad at the game you can always pop the corn.

• 106 Michael // Jul 19, 2009 at 9:02 pm

  Hello
  I am confused about the size the corn hole bags need to be before filling. Several sites all say 6 x 6 before filling? they all say start with 7 x 7 material and put a 1/2 seam so this will leave a 6 x 6 before filling? Before you answered and said 7 x 7 before filling?
  thank you

• 107 jennifer // Jul 30, 2009 at 4:26 pm

  hello! i am new to cornholing and i need some help!! i borrowed a friends set for a cookout at my house. everyone had tons of fun with it, but afterward, they accidentally got left outside and it rained overnight. i tried to just let them dry out naturally, but they seemed to get mold and mildew on them. i don’t know what to do!! are they ruined?! ANY help would be appreciated!!! thanks!!

• 108 LIZZY // Jul 30, 2009 at 4:58 pm

  Michael, to answer your question of measurements of the bag….Yes the bags need to be cut to 7×7 before you sew, 1/2 seam on ALL 4 sides, that means it will be a finished product of 6X6

• 109 CORNHOLE QUEEN // Jul 30, 2009 at 5:03 pm

  I am confused why so many folks are having problems with mold and mildew, We always put an area rug under the hole, make sure they are dry and clean before we store them into a small travel bag and take into the house, Just take care of the bags like you would anything else!!!! If you need too, put the filled bags into the sun or very low heated oven….A QUiCK TIP…SPRAY the Bags before you fill them with your filler of a water-proof spray, inside and out (like you would for your tents and sleeping bags) let that dry 24-30 Hours then fill the bags :0) Just read the instructions on the can before spraying…..this will prevent mildew and water asorbing into the bags, also helps them stay clean. HOPE THIS HELPS

• 110 jennifer // Jul 30, 2009 at 9:57 pm

  cornhole queen….
  i know this is a stupid question and i definitely know i should have brought them inside right away (drinking + cornhole = bad decisions!) but can i put them in the oven even after they’ve molded? thanks for your help!

• 111 CORNHOLE QUEEN // Jul 31, 2009 at 12:44 am

  Oh der, um Use a straight solution of 5% acidity distilled white vinegar. This cleans the mold and prevents it from coming back, because it also kills the roots . Don’t use Bleach it does not get rid of the spores. Sad thing is, if they have corn, beans or any item like that, ya just might want to buy new ones or make some new ones….sorry, but I think the bags are history.

• 112 Lucyred // Aug 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm

  Bruce (and anyone else with bugs in their bags)

  Zapping the bags in the microwave will work much better than putting them in the freezer!

• 113 reksat // Aug 29, 2009 at 11:40 pm

  I’ve used duckcloth for bags,but they busted easily after being double stitched,now I use a heavy camo fabric called advantage max and it holds up a lot better and takes a good beating.

• 114 Andrew // Oct 14, 2009 at 11:30 am

  Where can I get the corn feed to fill the bags in a reasonable size? I went by the place where I though I could get smaller quantities, but they only sell 50 lb bags.

• 115 Luvs Cornhole // Oct 14, 2009 at 11:57 am

  Try any IFA, or any store that carries such things as farming products. They carry everything. Dry beans work just as well Andrew, and break down for the dust. That you can buy in 5lb bags. (The dust is what makes it very fun and challenging)…..also, for anyone concerned about moisture. You know those bags that come packed in products that keep the moisture out? KEEP THEM, and place in your canvas or heavy fabric bag to carry your corn bags in. Always store your bags in something that can breath, nothing plastic or metal.

• 116 Gina // Oct 25, 2009 at 1:06 pm

  Hi. We are making a cornhole game for our daughter. My husband wants to put corn in the bags. A friend of mine works at a rental place and says they put pea gravel in all their beanbag games. No mildew, smell, bugs, etc. What do you think?

• 117 Eric // Oct 25, 2009 at 9:18 pm

  Hi Gina,
  I’ve never used it pea gravel myself but I’ve heard it works pretty well. You won’t have the dust and it might wear out bags faster. There are many benefits as you mentioned above though.

• 118 Grace H. // Oct 25, 2009 at 10:16 pm

  Hey Gina,
  I did end up using aquarium gravel for the very mold/pest issues you mentioned…
  I picked aquarium gravel over pea gravel because some of the rocks in pea gravel mixes can be quite large (consider what size corn kernels are…), just thought that I would throw that out there for consideration… if you do use pea gravel, I might consider sifting out the larger bits.
  Also, the volume of the aquarium gravel’s 14-16oz is slightly less than that of corn, leading to a different looser feel to the bag… I imagine that pea gravel might be more dense than aquarium gravel, making this more of an issue?

• 119 Grace H. // Oct 25, 2009 at 10:21 pm

  PS — for Andrew and others looking for corn, also try a pet store — one store around me has the ‘bulk bins’ with a scooper (for bird seed, etc.) and one of the things they have is corn (whole & cracked, but you’ll want whole) for feeding squirrels (not that *I* would feed squirrels, but I digress…)

• 120 New Player CB // Dec 16, 2009 at 12:54 am

  just bought bags from http://www.beaverbags.com and they are the bomb. The Codura material is unbelievable (I do like the idea of Sunbrella same time of material). I tried making them but just didnt come out right. If anyone else has bought them on another site they would recommend please let me know.

• 121 Bryan // Dec 24, 2009 at 11:17 am

  I’ve got a problem! I’m sewing my bags and I don’t have a scale to weigh the corn. I’ve got less than 24 hours to complete the set to give to my brother for Christmas. Does 16 oz. of corn by volume equal one pound by weight?

• 122 Lizzy // Dec 24, 2009 at 12:21 pm

  According to the ACA Regulation rules. It is 2 cups which equals out to be 14 and 16 ounces…

• 123 Liddo // Mar 5, 2010 at 12:02 pm

  My cornhole bags are filthy! Is there a safe way to wash them with out causing mildew or corn breakdown?

• 124 Sandy // Mar 27, 2010 at 1:16 pm

  I have a friend who used a moldy corn bag, had an allergic recation to the mold and broke out with hives all over her body. This mold is not safe to breath, as all farmers know. The week before prom time was ugly!! Be safe.

• 125 Lizzy // Mar 27, 2010 at 2:22 pm

  Curious !!!!!! What happened to Common Sense? Why in the world would anyone use a moldy bag? Storing them in a dry enviroment is the key, If they are moldy, buy new ones or make new ones. Plain and simple. Not being rude, but come on folks Look up Mold, if you do not address it within 24-48 hours. You have serious problems. If there is any indication that the bags are wet, then get them dried out ASAP….Mold can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors or outdoors , mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or un-addressed. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture….Just again, if you do not address the bags within 24 hours, you have problems. Plain and Simple…..

• 126 james p // Mar 30, 2010 at 12:35 pm

  hello im making a set of cornhole boards for my eagle project as a boy scout and i was wondering if the boards can stay outside during winter and fall and not get ruined from snow and rain. Im trying to make it less work for the beneficiaries so they don’t have to store the boards.

• 127 Lizzy // Mar 30, 2010 at 1:06 pm

  @ james P—-a lot of time, effort and Money is invested in homemade boards and bags. Personally I keep ours in the garage (the boards that is) …and the bags inside. and I still protect the boards in the garage with heavy blankets and a moisture barrier. I wouln’t keep them outside at all where snow and rain can get to them but that is my personal opinion, and because we work with wood everyday of the year. I also live where there is a lot of snow . How about on the wall in a garage? under a bed, attic? neighbors? maybe in your church storage room. anyplace but outside You will regret it I am thinking ….Good Luck .

• 128 james p // Mar 30, 2010 at 1:18 pm

  ok thank you for the advice maby i can get them to move it into a nearby shed.

• 129 Seth h // Apr 27, 2010 at 9:36 pm

  Yeah so I also usually bring my bags in every night. However cornhole Is often played while drinking and they were left out(nobody is perfect) well it rained the past three days so no cornhole playing. I was convinced they were ruined but put them in the oven for about 5 hrs at 225 and my favorite bags are back to normal

• 130 Rhonda Reynolds // Jun 1, 2010 at 3:10 pm

  How many yards of fabric does it take to make 8 cornhole bags? And where is the best place online to buy it?

• 131 Rhonda // Jun 1, 2010 at 3:11 pm

  How many yards of fabric does it take to make 8 cornhole bags? And where is the best place online to buy it? I hope to be making alot of them so can I would like to buy it in bulk.

• 132 Jim // Jun 10, 2010 at 3:00 pm

  My new bags are too slick. as soon as they hit the board they fly off. How do i make them a little less slick or how do i slow down the board?

• 133 dave // Jul 11, 2010 at 10:46 am

  im working on a new game ,yes with corn bags and the the board is a pool table.the 2 wholes on top of each side is 3 points,the 2 wholes on the sides in the middle are 2 points and there is a line across the middle just above the 2 wholes in the middle ,say on the board above the line is 1 point,the 2wholes on the bottom is -1 point just in case you go over 21 points you can go to them on each side and lower your points to get to 21 .any bag under the line in the middle is 0 points and bags hitting the ground first then to the board dont count..new game,corn pool,,yes you have the same size board as corn whole,but looks like a pool table..whole on the sides and corners..i made it up and everyone should have both games going..there a blast

• 134 dave // Jul 11, 2010 at 11:06 am

  the bags should be the same as corn whole game,you can make the bags with what you want in them but the same stuff for all bags,yes 8 bags only..same size ,same wieght ,same stuff..think about it .my wife kept hitting the sides of corn whole and getting mad at the game..now she can hit the sides and wins alot now..same size board also..no wholes in the middle..did you ever see a pool table with a whole in the middle?..the two top corner wholes are 3 points and the two sides are 2 points and the line in the middle just above the two side wholes strate across are 1 point and the two wholes on the bottom are -1 point and the line down is 0 points in the middle..try it its not that easy..the holes are 7″ big and the bags are 6″,just like pool the ball is just big enuff to fit..you can make them 8″ or 7 in a half” big..thats up to you..now working on a bowling game..

• 135 Lizzy // Jul 11, 2010 at 11:01 pm

  That is great Dave….THANK YOU so much for sharing your wonderful plans and ideas. You are appreciated. I will do this. It sounds like a complete BLAST!!!!!! Thanks again.

• 136 Brownman // Jul 24, 2010 at 10:00 am

  For the boards I have used b/c plywood. I have also used professional birch plywood. If you do your paint right it should not matter as long as the plywood is 1/2 inch thick. I use a primer (2-3 coats) spread on light each time. I do not sand because if you take your time painting I do not feel you need to but that is just my opinion.

  I do my own decals but I can reply later to a post about decals.

  Once I know the main color of the boards I again take my time and put on 2-3 coats (again no sanding).

  The reason I do not sand in between coasts is I take my time painting like I said before and I apply a minwax. I usually put on more coats than I do with paint but I make sure I do light coats.

  Bags I cut 8×8 duck canvas/cloth. Then I measure a 7×7 square on the inside. This allows me room to double stitch on the outside of this square or shorten the bags if needed. I make my bags 6 1/2 by 6 1/2. Corn and bag weigh 15 oz together (I use a postal scale).

  Making the bags 7×7 with one more ounce seems like it would work and I might try it on new bags for my first board set I made for my father-n-law. These bags have lasted three years and been soaked three times. They have dried out fine but over time the bags have lost weight.

  I have made 5 sets I take my time and they each cost me around if not under $75 to make.

  Any other questions about
  screws,
  wood putty,
  legs,
  decals,
  or anything else I am not thinking of I will try and respond promptly.

  My way is not for everyone but I have made enough sets to learn some tricks of the trade.

• 137 Brownman // Jul 26, 2010 at 1:05 am

  Found a great way to get consistent bag measurements.

  I measured out a 8×8 square and cut it out of a vanilla file folder. I did the same for a 7X7 square as well.

  Took the 8×8 put it on my duck canvas and traced around it and then cut out my square. Next I took my 7×7 square placed it in the middle of the 8×8.

  Lined it up to get a1/2 inch border of cloth sticking out.
  Traced 7×7 square onto 8×8.

  Used the line as my sewing line. Went once around and then went back again around the outside of the 7×7 square so I would get the double stitch.

  Used postal scale and got all 8 bags to weigh exactly one 1 lb. total.

  All bags turned out really close to 6×6. if not exactly that size.

• 138 DaveN // Aug 1, 2010 at 11:41 pm

  Thanks for the tip Brownman. I used that template method, but made mine 7 1/2 x 7 1/2 and 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 respectively.

• 139 Brownman // Aug 2, 2010 at 2:44 am

  Hey Daven

  Glad and idea of mine helped a fellow builder.

  So when you said your dimensions you were talking about the templates or the finished product?

• 140 DaveN // Aug 2, 2010 at 3:13 pm

  I created templates a half inch smaller than yours. The finished/filled bags are 6 x 6.

• 141 Brownman // Aug 2, 2010 at 6:16 pm

  Daven

  How many sets have you made or is this your first outing?

• 142 Teresa // Aug 5, 2010 at 9:24 pm

  I am having trouble finding whole corn! I have made several sets of bags….all of them have developed mold and corn weavels! I have several mad people….they have stored them well and not been wet….big problem!

• 143 DaveN // Aug 6, 2010 at 8:24 am

  @Brownman: This is my first time making them, but I’m making two sets at once so the templates were very helpful.

  @Teresa: I bought a 40lb bag of whole corn Deer Feed at Tractor Supply in the deer hunting section. They had an 11lb bag of whole corn in the bird feeding section, but it was slightly more expensive than the 40lb bag. I needed 16 lbs to make two sets, so I went with the 40lb bag.

  I stored the bad of corn in our extra freezer for a few days while I was gathering the rest of the materials in hopes of killing off any bugs.

• 144 Linda Mechel // Aug 6, 2010 at 10:05 am

  When I get my corn I lay it in a large cookie sheet or cake pan -not too deep- and put it in an oven set VERY LOW about 140-150 degrees. I let it sit in there until it gets to 150 degrees or so. I let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. It kills most bugs and eggs and does not harm the corn.

  I also tried 1 pound crushed corn to every 20 pounds whole corn mixing it well. It is not a lot and the bags form the dust a little quicker.

• 145 Brownman // Aug 6, 2010 at 9:18 pm

  TERESA

  There really is no way to stop the corn from molding. You just have understand every year inspecting your board and your bags is a must. I do tiny repairs on my boards every couple of years and look at my bags and decide if I want to make new ones that year. It is a pain but unless you go with plastic pellets it is just nature.

  Plastic tub sealed tight with rice is a good way to store bags.

  Again just my opinion but I have read of a lot of ideas on earlier posts.

  DAVEN
  I would like to see your boards if you have pictures I can post one of my email addresses.

• 146 Tim // Aug 9, 2010 at 1:36 am

  I used a semi-gloss paint on my boards, and the bags slide pefectly. I added decals to the boards and then applied a Minwax polycrylic coating, and now the boards seem more tacky and the bags don’t slide like they used to. Just wondering what you guys use as a clear coat. Thanks.

• 147 Jim // Aug 15, 2010 at 12:39 am

  For anyone who wants to know how many bags you can get from a yard of fabric….I just purchased two yards of Duck Cloth. At 5 x 3 ft you can get exactly 20 bags from one yard if you cut them correctly at 7″ x 14″.

• 148 Lynn // Aug 15, 2010 at 7:57 pm

  Where can you get plastic pellets at the best price?

• 149 sawnscissors // Aug 19, 2010 at 2:05 am

  My husband and I have been making cornhole sets for the past 5 years and haven’t had an issue yet. We just shipped a set to England…that was exciting. We make both pellet bags and corn bags. In our opinion people are getting more into pellets each year. Please feel free to email us with any questions or interest in a set. We will respond quickly and include pictures.

• 150 Patti Boring // Aug 19, 2010 at 7:32 am

  I seen where someone said to put corn in oven to kill bugs,,I put my bags in the micowave for about 2 to 3 minutes, this kills anything that is in the corn,,brings out moisture,I let dry on a rack and they are good to go. I also store them in a 1 gallon plastic container with lid,,mice can not get in, if you can find glass container is best.

• 151 J Bird // Aug 20, 2010 at 12:44 pm

  I just finished painting my boards and ordered my decals, just wondering do you put decals on and then apply the Minwax or do you put decals on after the Minwax?

• 152 backyard fungamz // Aug 21, 2010 at 2:30 pm

  been reading this list today lots of good info here for my 2 cents
  we make some where between 1000 to 3000 bags a week right now will soon slow up a bit but we have 2 industrial machines using size 44 upholstery thread and never have trouble breaking stitches but a good house hold machine double stitched with quality thread will work fine keep your stitches small and tight
  we use duck cloth and if we are makeing printed bags we use a cotton over lay we get 20 to 22 bags a yard of fabric and buy corn in bulk but tsc and land mark sell corn by the 50 pound bags for people who wish to make ther own
  take care of your bags put them away and dry

  now and then theres bugs havent had to much trouble with it thats hard to stop being corn isnt very clean and any eggs layed in the corn will hatch freezing your bags seems to work and bakeing them as well we are debating which is best we are working up a sheet to give out with each set of bag on care of them any thought on this id like to read even tho we sell mostlyto other vendors

  thanks happy cornholeing
  tim

• 153 backyard fungamz // Aug 21, 2010 at 2:37 pm

  just read this and i think i have my answer

  QUESTION: Jack, Just a follow up. I took a sample bug to my county ext. and the bug was identified as a weevil that would infest gardens and pantries. Since my infestation was in an upstairs bathroom I was baffled. I finally found the source of the infestation in the office across the hall from the bathroom. I had stored brand new corn hole bags in a bag in the office. When I opened the bag I was horrified…1000′s of weevils! After much vacuuming and cleaning they are gone. I know this sounds bizarre but NEVER STORE CORN HOLE BAGS IN YOUR HOUSE!

  Answer
  Kathy,

  Thanks for the follow up. I’m glad you found an answer. These sound like some type of grain weevil (they won’t bother your garden). One suggestion: since most stored product insects, like grain weevils and meal moths, originated in the tropics they have a very low tolerance to cold. Freezing temperatures are generally lethal. This is why we suggest that food grains should be frozen for a few days before being put in long-term storage (long-term = more than 2 months). This treatment will kill all stages of these insects.

  The bags could have been treated this way as well. I’d contact the manufacturer and suggest they treat their bags before shipping! Take a look at this page http://www.livingwithbugs.com/pantry_pest.html for information about stored product pests.

  Jack DeAngelis

• 154 frank // Aug 22, 2010 at 2:21 pm

  What is the scoop on putting copyrighted material on the boards? Is it permitted on retail?

• 155 timothy smith // Aug 25, 2010 at 5:43 pm

  how corn yuo put bag thank yon

• 156 timothy smith // Aug 25, 2010 at 5:44 pm

  how corn you put bag thank you

• 157 dave jone // Aug 25, 2010 at 5:55 pm

  HOW
  MUCH CORN YOU PUT IN EACH BAG

  THANK YOU

• 158 jim // Aug 25, 2010 at 6:08 pm

  Bag should weigh between 14oz and 16oz. About 2 1/2 cups of corn.

• 159 backyard fungamz // Aug 25, 2010 at 10:58 pm

  we put in 15.5 oz and use a scale to measure each bag and yes thats close to 2 1/2 cups you dont want the bag to tight 16oz because when the humidity goes up the corn takes in moisture and makes the bag to tight and and weigh more than 16 if you hit a sharp edge it can puncture the body of the bag so we leave a lil room for it to swell

Leave a Comment