There is an ongoing debate between Cornhole game enthusiasts about the perfect fill for Cornhole Bags. I don’t know if I can settle here, but I’ll offer up the advantages of each and let you be the judge. Some believe it’s best to fill for your Cornhole bags with plastic pellets and others are die hard corn filled bag fanatics. They each have their advantages. Hopefully, this will help you decide which bag fill is best for your perfect set of Cornhole bags.
Weather Resistant
This one goes to the plastic pellets. One of the biggest advantages to plastic pellets is their resistant to moisture. Over time, corn is more susceptible to developing mildew as the weather takes its toll. It’s almost inevitable that Cornhole bags will be left outside sometime. If this happens, the rain or the morning dew starts working away on your favorite bags. Your corn filled bags will probably start to mildew if they aren’t dried out quickly enough. Worse than that, if they really get waterlogged, corn can even swell up. Once this happens to your Cornhole bags, you might as well pitch them and dig out the sewing machine. They’ll never be the same.
Corn Breaks Down
Once a new set of Cornhole bags gets broken in it’s easy to get used to your “favorite bags”. The fabric that Cornhole bags are made out of is usually stiff “Duck Cloth” canvas. After the canvas breaks down, the bags get softer and easier to play with. That’s the good side of breaking in you bags. On the other hand corn changes the weight and play of the bags when it breaks down too much. You may have tossed a set of bags yourself that seemed half filled or floppy. This is the effect of the corn breaking down. I will say, this takes some serious playing time before you’ll notice the effects of this. Nevertheless, this is one of the disadvantages of corn as a fill.
It’s all in the Name
This one is pretty self explanatory. The game is called Cornhole, not pellet or bean hole. This is one reason some insist on corn filled bags. Playing with corn is how the game originated.
The Dust is a Must
No matter what you think about some of the disadvantages of corn filled bags listed above, it’s tough to argue with this one if you’ve played with both Cornhole bag types. This is the main reason everyone loves playing with corn filled bags. I’m not talking about which is more practical. I’m talking about what feels the best to play with. The dust that corn filled bags produce help the bags slide and play better. But that’s not the only reason players like the dust. There is just something about the dust of a Cornhole bag that coats your hands and clouds around the boards when the bags hit. It’s just part of the game for most. As the saying goes, “The Dust is a Must”.
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?
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
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
What is the scoop on putting copyrighted material on the boards? Is it permitted on retail?
how corn yuo put bag thank yon
how corn you put bag thank you
HOW
MUCH CORN YOU PUT IN EACH BAG
THANK YOU
Bag should weigh between 14oz and 16oz. About 2 1/2 cups of corn.
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
When a extended playing session ending in darkness, we put tap lights under the board. Creating an effect such as this
http://www.ajjcornhole.com/proddetail.php?prod=404
You could see the hole but not where or if you hit the board or if you stayed on or fell off.
So I made a set of boards out of 1/2 inch Lexan and lined them with rope lights.
Now not only can we see, we can play late at night or until the neighbors complain!
If your bag seams a little over stuffed after making it. Put each bag in a quart sized zip lock bag and toss in the dryer on air fluff (do not use heat) for about 20 minutes. The corn will break down a bit and and make the bag a little dusty but will play a lot better. Note: The bags will look dirty at first after coming out of the dryer and ziplock bag but as soon as you throw them on the boards the dust will fall off and onto the boards making for great game play.
I used a pound of the plastic pellets in my bags and they are so fat that it was hard to close the bags. Will the dryer or anything help break them in, or should I take out some pellets and just not try for the full pound?
Very good reading everyone! Pros N Cons…excellant reports on ‘what happened to me’. With that in mind, I’ve decided to use pellets. And while I saw that usually 2 1/2 c. makes for one pound for corn. What about the pellets? Has anyone measured those as well? My postal scale has decided to up and die on me…it won’t do anything at all….so I have no other way of knowing the weight.
Thanks to whomever started this site….and to all who have contributed!
OH I suppose I can figure out the answer, but if someone else has already figured it out then I won’t be making such a mess!
Have a great day ! 🙂
do you know how much corn goes into the cornhole bags for jrs and what size the bags are?
After pricing the pellets….I’ve decided to use corn. $4.00 a pound for pellets is quite pricey! And since I’m making two cornhole sets…..OUCH! I found the whole corn at Tractor Supply…40lb bag for under $9. If I’d waited, I could have saved $2. as Bass Pro Shops had it for less.
For the logos….I found some online, enlarged them to fit an 8 x 11 sheet of regular labels. Hubby cut around them to take off excess and used spray polyeurethene over the entire board. They look fantastic! Also made a canvas bag to hold bags and put the logo’s with iron on transfer on them as well. Will be printing out a “Care and Maintenance” sheet for the cornhole bags. Since these are Christmas gifts, I plan to put a picture of the board in the bag of cornhole bags. NOT going to wrap those big boards. I’m EXCITED!
…now off to bake those little weevils out of my corn and start stuffing! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
We have been making both the resin and the corn bags for over a year. The corn is cheaper and there is a point in the break in cycle where the bags are just right and then with the breakdown of the corn, they lose weight and lose slide. They start to feel like you are throwing a sand bag. The resin keeps it’s weight and gives you a more consistent bag for a longer period of time. The duck fabric wears down over time on both bags. We like our boards to play fast at tournaments and we will bring resin or new corn bags depending. Corn…or Resin…you decide. USABagtoss.com or on Facebook.
I wanted to make mine critter proof and waterproof in case the kids leave them outside, but I still wanted the weight and feel of corn. I found that by mixing 8 oz. of fish tank gravel and 6.5 oz of plastic pony beads per bag, you can achieve the official weight to the equivalent volume of corn (about 2 cups). Pony beads are about 1/4 inch in diameter. I found mine in Walmart with children’s crafts and beads. This obviously costs more that feed corn, but well worth not having them eaten…again! It is certainly more cost effective then frequent replacements.
I weighed the contents using a kitchen scale and with the weight of the bag, it’s in the official range for weight and close to 16 oz. I have asthma so the dust and possible mold were also issues for me in addition to losing one set to animals, this just made sense. Someone suggested using airsoft pellets, that might work but some of those biodegrade so you could still have breakdown and moisture problems.
After filling the bags, I pin the bag at the top of the loose filling, then triple machine stitch across the open side.
I was wondering if anyone has tried a half and half mixture of corn and pellets, or corn and pea gravel, I would figure the breakdown and weight loss would be alot slower and you can still get that dust from the corn if you wanted it
The corn would still break down and you would still have to deal with critters and bugs in the corn. Wipe your boards with a diluted solution of armorall wash and wax detailer or something similar. You’ll get all the slide without the dust. Careful not to make them too slippery. If you do, just wash with soap and water and start again. The resin bags are great if done right and are the most consistent for regular playing and tournaments. The resin is just hard to find at the right price without having to buy bulk.
I saw that people are looking for poly pellets at a reasonable price. Check out my web site http://www.craftpellets.com. I buy in bulk so you’ll get a great price. The pellets are smooth so they won’t wear on the fabric. No worries about mold or critters trying to eat them. A cup of pellets weighs about 5oz. They are made in the USA. Sorry, I can’t provide any corn dust to go with them.
Happy sewing!
Gayla,
If you guys ever need some decals, we have affordable prices.
There is a thread sold at Jo Ann fabrics that is made for outside sewing, etc…. it is about $7-$8 for a spool but it last forever and this solves the problem with the sticking coming out. I have made a few sets of bags and my original bags that are really worn and old are not falling apart at the seems at all. The thread is called sun stop it has uv protection in the thread and everything.
Hey TY Miranda. Good info. I did French Seams on mine, which helps BIG TIME 🙂
Just a note about making AND selling cornhole boards. I see many people producing boards for sale and they’re using Team Logos, especially college logos, ie. Duke, UNC, etc. These are Registered Trademarks and you have to be licensed to sell OLP (Officially Licensed Products) stuff. So, if you make a set of cornhole boards, slap a big Duke decal on it that you bought online or in a store and sell it for a profit, you’re in violation of Trademark laws, unless you’re licensed.
I was making and selling boards with DUKE, UNC and NC State logos and couldn’t make them fast enough. Then, before long I received two Cease and Desist letters in the mail from the legal departments of both Duke and NC State threatning legal action if I continued. Fines for Trademark and Copyright infringment can be VERY steep if you’re unlucky enough to get caught and prosecuted.
Just some friendly advice.
what is the weight of the 4×4 bag
The game is cornhole not plastic hole. I worked in plastics for 40 years plastic pelletts will absorb moisture.Making them weight more. The pellets are not good for you some are toxic, pvc pellets are Poly vinal chloride. Not a good thing to have your kids chewing on.So use corn Get it CORNHOLE.
I use POPCORN…the kernals are small. Recently purchased 4 lb. bag at food market for $2.40. That makes 4 cornhole bags @ 2 cups in each bag or $.60 per bag.
FYI, that is UNPOPPED popcorn…just, if you were in question!
Great advise out there!
I just made new bags for our cornhole game. I used 2 cups of plastic craft beads for the first set of bags. When we played the game, the bags were too light and we had to toss them harder to get them to the boards. I was thinking of using unpopped pocorn, because I don’t want the mess of corn feed, so it was great to see that someone else had used unpopped popcorn with success. I hope we have success, too.
For those of you who have trouble with the fabric unraveling, you can either zig zag stitch the edges together or apply a fabric glue (“Stop Fray”). Fabric stores sell fabric glue with cross stitch supplies. I tripple stitched my new bags, in hopes of not having to mend the bags while playing the game!!
What are dimensoin cornhole bags .
If buying cornhole bags, where is the best site to buy them from? Do you have to worry about bugs from online dealers also?
We are currently working on our website, but we do ship. We advertise on Craigslist.org and Blujay.com. I also supply bags for multiple venders and another company’s website. We offer clean quailty bags with a 6 month warranty. We have both corn and waterproof bags. We accept Visa, Mastercard and Paypal. Let me know if you’d be interested!
J Bird,
We sell decals and we use to make boards. We always applie Polycrylic after applying decal…Helps seal them in and around the edges as well. Also, spraying 3 light coats of polycrylic or similar helps with giving decals a tighter bond before applying liquid sealer…
Hope this helps, and if you ever need any decals please ask…
Are the bags 4×4, or 3×3 inches in size?
Am I correct that it takes 4 bags for the game?
We need to replace missing bags.
If I want to make my own corn hole bags and want to use corn feed, how can I treat the corn to make sure bugs won’t get in? We will be using them for an outdoor P.E. class.
Thanks!
So glad I came upon this site. I was getting ready to fill some bags, & I had pre bagged the corn, in cheap sandwich bags, and put the corn in a container with a lid. ( I had some corn go bad and mold and buggy on me when I left it the bag it came in.) so I figured I would be safe this time. I lost probably 40 bags of corn. It still went bad. it was inside so it wasnt subject to humidity, I didnt think. I had some finished bags go moldy and buggy on me, but I thought some moisture must have gotten on them. I think from now on I will fill with plactic pellets or only make them to order. thank god I had them in a container, and the mold and bugs were contained, because I have asthma and it could have been even worse. Does anyone know where you can get the pellets in retail stores?
Patty
Those plastic pellets are very expansive…Goggle P.E.T. plastic pellets and you will find some leads…We make them made to order now. We sell more decals for the boards then we do bags…
Patty we hope this helps…
Jays Decal Shop
Hi,
I have now purchased 2 bags of deer corn from WALMART marked XTRA CLEAN deer corn the 40 lb bags for 8.97.
My last bag was full of bugs after about a week, I had already filled my bags with this now tainted corn and was freaking so I froze all of my product for one week.
So I went last night and purchased another bag, and told the rep there to open the bag and we did, we didnt see any bugs.
So Today I filled about 10 of my product bags…went to get a refill on my deercorn and darn it, THERE WERE WEEVILS all over my corn. I guess they were hiding before!!
I dont know what to do here. I dont have anywhere to store these huge bags of deercorn to freeze them. I suppose to go to a swap meet this weekend to sell my product and my corn is full of bugs, again.
very frustraiting.
Microwave the made bags. I’m not sure of the amount of time but it will kill the bugs. Don’t work. Deer corn will not pop. But if cooked to long, it can scorch.
I DON”T KNOW FOR SURE IF THIS SOLVES ALL THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CORN IN THE BAGS, BUT I PUT THE CORN IN ZIPLOC BAGS BEFORE PUTTING THEM IN THE CLOTH BAGS> I DID THIS ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE FINE>
I buy whole corn from Pet Supplies Plus in the large bags. Have never had a problem with bugs ever, the corn is clean.
I fill and weigh each bag to the weight of 14.8oz. This seems perfect. I store my bags in a plastic storage container inside the house. Of course if they get wet I allow them to dry. Each bag is 6″ x 6″. I love cornhole!
Weather Resistant/Proof? – Are Any Cornhole Bags Weather Proof?: Yes but only those filled with plastic pellets can be weather proof. As discussed in the above section on filling, plastic filled bags are the only weather resistant bags on the market. It is physically impossible to make a biodegradeable good such as corn or beans moisture and weather resistant, no matter what you do the fabric. Plastic filled bags not only completely repel moisture, heat and other weather but they also float in water allowing you to play your game by the pool, at the beach, on a dock or boat all without worry of losing a bag to the bottom or having it be harmed by the water! Even if you never intend to play by water you never know when a freak rain storm might pop up or even someone spills a drink on your bags. With All-Weather plastic filled bags you will never have to worry and your bags will last way longer!
Made the bags the shape of a frog. Then filled with 16 oz of white popping corn and sewed shut.
Then used Scotch Guard water proof spray and soaked the bags and then dried for two days. And will from time to time spray it some more. I Had sprayed the corn with scotch guard waterproofing prior to filling.
Don’t make the mistake I did of leaving your corn filled corn hole bags in your RV. Mice chewed them open over winter and stashed corn all over RV!
I’m flummoxed, and I’m hoping someone here can help. Our kids gave us a corn hole set for our anniversary last summer. The bags that came with it seem durable, but one of them has always seemed lighter-weight than the others, almost like it was filled with something different. Today, I had the bags in their basket sitting in my office when I started hearing a faint noise. After snooping around for several minutes, I traced the sound to that light-weight bag! No lie, it sounds like there are live things in there! EW! I immediately put it in a Ziploc bag just in case whatever it is should work its way out of the bag, and I intend to contact the company where my daughter ordered the boards (she isn’t home, so I don’t know the name of the company yet).
My question is does anyone have any clue what could be going on with that bag? It’s freaking me out! LOL
Thanks in advance,
Lisa
Yes Lisa, mine are doing the same thing! I even removed them from where I store them and seperated them to see if I would still here the noise….it’s hard to descrie the sound.
Yes! And reading some of the comments above, it sounds like you and I both were hearing weevils in our bags. The company did replace our bag, thankfully, and thus far no critter sounds are coming from it (or the other bags). Hope you get yours replaced without a problem. 🙂
It sounds like you have a bug in the bag munching away. The only way to kill the bugs is to freeze them for as long as you can. I bought some corn and somehow it got bugs making the sound you are describing. Put the whole bag in the freezer for a week and no more sound, No more bugs