My name is Josh Carmody and I am the founder of Truly Against The Grain.
I live in Fort Dodge, IA with my wife of 20+ years and my two teenage children. All four of us were born in Iowa, raised in Iowa, and appreciate all that this state has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The idea of going against the grain is nothing new. It’s a phrase that speaks to those who choose a different path, who don’t just follow the crowd or do things the way they’ve always been done. Whether in life, in work, or in art, going against the grain means choosing intention over convenience, quality over shortcuts, and purpose over popularity.
I was going to go with Against the Grain, but the AgainstTheGrain.com asking price was over $50,000!!! However, that was truly against my budget! I added one simple word: TRULY. It’s not just about going against the grain, but doing it with authenticity. TrulyAgainstTheGrain.com cost me $12, but the meaning behind it? Priceless.
With everything going digital these days, there’s still something satisfying about picking up a good old-fashioned pen and putting it to paper. It’s simple, quiet, and personal. Over the years, I’ve collected a handful of pens—some I bought, others were given to me—and each one felt unique in its own way. At some point, I thought, How cool would it be to make a few myself? Maybe even gift some to my kids or friends. That idea stuck with me, so I started looking into the process. One thing led to another, and before long, I was making handcrafted pens of my own.
I started turning in October of 2023 and opened Truly Against the Grain in May of 2024.
The process to making pens is basically the same for all of the pens that I make. Take a quick minute to watch a short VIDEO about this very process. The deer antler pens are the biggest change to this process. The finishing process on that is to put 8-10 coats of superglue on the blank and sand it using 600 – 12,000 grit. Acrylic material is also polished to 12,000 grit but nothing is applied to these when completed.
I use pure Walnut Oil to friction polish all wooden pens. This brings out the color and protects/seals the wood. You can always add a drop or two of Olive Oil or Vegetable Oil to your wooden pen if it starts feeling dry to the touch.
Anywhere from 45 minutes to one hour and 30 minutes. If you are interested, you can watch a video HERE to see a more detailed look at the process and the amount of time it took to make the pen.
No, this is a hobby that has turned into a small business. I am a full-time pastor in Fort Dodge. This has been a fun and creative outlet for me and puts my spare time to good use.