Frequently Asked Questions

Every Barrel Buddy is cut from North American hardwood, and you choose the species when you order: maple (light and classic, with a tight grain), cherry (a warm, reddish tone), or walnut (rich and dark). All three are durable, food-safe cutting woods, and each board is sealed with a food-grade protective coating to withstand the rigors of backcountry use.

Barrel Buddy comes in two sizes: one fits standard 20L and 30L blue camping barrels, and one fits 60L barrels — the portage barrels used by most Canadian outfitters and canoe trippers. Pick your barrel size on the product page and the board will sit securely in the recessed groove of your lid.

Choose your wood and barrel size, then open the engraving editor. Combine your own artwork, text and gallery designs, and review the placement and spelling. Pay at checkout. Designs containing uploaded artwork receive a proof for approval within 1–2 business days. Text and gallery-only designs use the final preview you approve in the editor. Check spelling and placement carefully. Every Barrel Buddy is handmade in Canada from natural hardwood. Your preview shows the design and approximate placement. Grain, engraving tone, fine detail and finish may vary slightly in the finished board.

Each board is handmade in Canada. Production takes 3–5 business days. For uploaded artwork, production begins after you approve your proof; proof turnaround is 1–2 business days after payment. Shipping is CAD $15 per order across Canada, including the territories. Transit time depends on your destination and courier and is additional to production time.

You can cancel for a full refund before any work begins and before your order ships. Boards without engraving can be returned within 7 days of receiving them, in their original condition, for a refund; you pay return shipping. Once work begins, custom engraved boards are not eligible for a change-of-mind refund. Contact us if your board arrives damaged or there is an error with your order.

When you upload your own artwork for engraving, our system uses AI-powered vectorization to convert your image into clean vector lines suitable for laser engraving. This ensures sharp, precise results even from photos or hand-drawn sketches. You'll see a preview of the vectorized result and can approve it before we proceed. We never store or use your uploaded images for any purpose other than your order.

After each use, wash your Barrel Buddy with warm water and mild soap, then dry it thoroughly. Avoid soaking it or putting it in a dishwasher. To keep the wood hydrated and protected, rub in a thin coat of our food-safe Board Butter (or food-grade mineral oil) whenever the board starts to look dry.