
Announcement
I recently moved across country and am in the process of building a new shop. Until then, I will only be making ladder ball bolas. Thank you for your understanding.
Welcome to my shop, Grain Expectations. As you explore my shop you will find a variety of personally made wood products - this means 100% made in the USA by a military veteran. My products feature a variety of categories but are all made out of quality hardwood - you will not any 'soft' woods in my shop as I focus on quality and long lasting. Custom/personalized orders are certainly accepted and encouraged. Please message me with any special request prior to placing an order to ensure I can meet your request. Thank you for stopping in and if you do not see what you are looking for, message me as I love a new challenge!
Items
All Items
Reviews
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Kelly on Jun 6, 2023
5 out of 5 starsArrived very quick considering the distance it travelled (international & cross-country). Quality is amazing, definitely feel like they are built to last. Would buy again!
Eric responded on Jun 6, 2023
I am so excited to hear that you like your ladder golf bolas. I strive to get orders out as soon as able abs pride myself in building each set.
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mvanalstine12 on May 9, 2023
5 out of 5 starsGreat product quality is good
Eric responded on Jun 3, 2023
thank you!
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Terri on Dec 8, 2022
5 out of 5 starsLove these. Bought these to replace the cheapie ones that came with my game. So glad to find these. Will definitely purchase again.
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Kelly on Nov 16, 2022
5 out of 5 starsThese bolas are incredibly well made. This is the second set we purchased!
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Kelly on Oct 23, 2022
5 out of 5 starsthese are great! way sturdier than the bolas that came with our ladder golf set from another company. highly recommend!!
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About GrainExpectations
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Just cut up a fresh batch of hardwood, mostly exotic wood. This is the first step to making my unique cutting boards.
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The trick to my home shop is cleaning up every day so my gorgeous wife has a parking spot. :)
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These cutting boards have been sanded and are awaiting the finishing touch of food safe Walrus Oil.
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The most rewarding part of woodworking is seeing the look on other peoples face when they come to admire my hard work.
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Who says you cannot keep a few of your favorites and enjoy a delicious meal. Functional art at its best.
Grain Expectations - Woodworking & Backyard Games! Veteran Owned / Made in the USA
Shop members
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Eric McKinley
Owner, Maker, Shipper
I am Eric McKinley - the owner of Grain Expectations. I make every product that I have listed. In addition, I help with managing three other ships - WhimSeaByLo/ImagesofHawaii/PortraitsofProof.
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Lo McKinley
Assistant
Being married to Eric is work in of itself. However, in addition to being married to Eric, I help with designing some of the products he makes.
Shop policies
Shipping
Customs and import taxes
Payment options
Returns & exchanges
Cancellations
Cancellations: accepted
Request a cancellation: within 1 hour of purchase
More information
Frequently asked questions
Care instructions
Kitchen items (cutting boards/butcher blocks/charcuterie) - DO NOT PUT IN THE DISHWASHER. These items should be oiled on a regular basis with any mineral oil (I recommend Walrus Oil as it is a quality blend). I advise to oil your board monthly if used daily. To wash - wipe down and let dry evenly in a horizontal rack.
Outdoor games - when not in use, store in an area out of inclement weather. They are treated for outdoor use but constant sun and bad weather will reduce the lifespan.
Wall plaques - best to keep out of direct sunlight if exotic colored woods are used (sunlight can change the color of exotic woods like purpleheart/padauk). Otherwise, hang it securely on the wall and enjoy for years to come.
Warranty & Replacement
I stand by my work and will replace any issues that occur due to my mistakes. If you break something due to an oops, no biggy - I will replace it at a discounted cost as I value your loyalty.
If you do have an issue, I will kindly require photos in order to determine what went wrong with the item.
Custom and personalized orders
I would love to create a custom order for you, please message me with any request.
If the order is custom and has personal engraving on it, I do not accept returns. However, if I can resell the product, returns will be considered on a case by case basis.
Wholesale availability
Wholesale orders are accepted, the discounted rate will depend on quantity of items that you are looking for. Please contact me for more information. In your message please include the basic details of who you are, what you are looking for, and what your intent is with the products you are requesting.
End grain vs edge grain
The difference in grain orientation is purely how that grain of the wood is oriented to maximize the potential benefits.
End Grain:
End grain is the spongy looking end of wood, you can find this by looking at the end of a typical board you would find at the store. End grain is considered superior in the kitchen because it is self-healing (kind of like running the knife through the end of a paintbrush). Pros: Long-lasting, gentler on knives. Cons: more expensive, requires more routine care (oiling).
Edge Grain (long grain):
This is the when the grain goes across the board. These boards are perfectly fine for the average cook. Pros: less expensive, easier to care for. Cons: harder on knives, shows cut marks more quickly.
Wood vs Plastic
Studies have shown that wood is a safer option when it comes to cutting boards. When plastic scars from cutting on it, bacteria gets trapped in the cracks of the board. With wood, bacteria is suffocated within the wood grain. Wood does require more care but it is by far superior for maintaining sharp knives and is much better for our environment.
All of the woods that I use are safe for kitchen use and treated with food safe products (nut FREE oils). I personally use Walrus oil which is a blend of 5 ingredients that maximizes the health of your boards.