.... between a casting blank and a spinning blank ? For example Two blanks are the same length, 7',same material,IM6 graphite, nearly identical butt and tip dimensions( butts within 5 thousandths inch of eachother, same tip size) both fast action, both rated for med. power(12 to 20lb), both rated for 1/4 to 1oz lure weight and both are extremly close in blank weight. The casting blank costs $36 and the spinning blank is $70. Thats almost double for what appears to be the same blank. I am interested in making a few spinning rods but it would save a lot of dough if I could use the casting blanks without sacraficing any performance.

In many cases they are the exact same blank listed in two different categories. The blank has no idea whether you're hanging a spinning or casting reel on it.

In those instances where the cost is so much different, I'd say you're looking two different series of blanks, an SCIII versus something like an SCV or similar.

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Steve, I have built many rods on popping blanks, some for spinning and some for casting and I have used the same blank in both cases. I am in the process of building a spinning rod for myself on a St. Croix casting blank that I bought. I look at the power, action, line and lure weight range more so than the designation of the blank. I like the St. Croix blanks as much as I do the GLoomis blanks and I believe what Tom said. You might have been looking at two different series of rod blanks. The SCII series are cheaper than the SCIII's but do make good rods.

I agree with everything above, except with regard to line ratings. Blank manufacturers tend to use higher line ratings for blanks they are marketing as "casting" blanks, then if they are marketing an identical blank as a "spinning" blank. This is in part because of the reels that will be put on the blanks. A casting reel is more suited for heavier lines, and the ratings are apparently adjusted for this. So I factor this in when shopping for a blank, and, like Ellis, have built both kinds of rods on the same blank.

Do what you mentioned. Buy a casting blank and build it up as a spinning blank, or vice versa. I don't know that there's any difference at all. One of my favorite rods is labeled as casting rod, but I built it as a spinning rod.

One of my favorite FLOAT rods, built for my daughter (FisherGirl), is a cascade composite 6 wt 2pc 10'6" FLY rod blank. It has the power to send the terminal tackle and float farther with less effort than any of my designated "float" rods that I have purchased or hand-built and it fights steelies with authority. I would say the only two negatives are that it certainly is better suited for larger fighting fish and it is not my rod ;-( but I sneak it out every now and then when she's not looking!!!

Don't let the manufacturors dictate your imagination (of course, there is a limit to what you can do and with what type of blank...a special note as well, some warranties are void when the blank are used for a purpose other than what they are "designed")

Domenic

In many cases, manufacturer's will list the same blank in more than one category (spin, cast) to make it easier to locate a blank for a particular purpose. They're not being deceptive, just helpful. You can use any blank for any purpose! Not sure on warranty issue, but have never noticed anything on manufacturer's sites addressing it although, obviously, using a light Spin Jig blank to build a Tuna rod would probably void the warranty

Mike