I just read the North Fork blog on blank coatings --- [northforkcomposites.com]

I admit I like some of the bright colors on rod blanks. But I always wonder how much performance are we giving up with a painted or coated blank over a bare blank? What is the weight of the paint or coating on a rod blank as an overall percentage of the blank's total weight? Anybody have any idea?

It depends.
If the blank has been coated correctly, with a very thin finish, there will be minimal weight buildup with very little change in the action of the blank.

Good luck
Roger

First of all it is not paint, it is a Urethane! Urethane is thin as water and as a rule needs just one coat. that coat is about one mil in thickness. Just enough to protect the blank from scratches and nicks

Good Wraps Bob

Rob,

If I recall from a past discussion where people were talking about stripping blanks and the like, the weight difference was on the order of 5%.

Joe

Weight does not affect action (where the rod initially flexes), it does affect speed (reaction and recovery time).

I believe Joe is probably pretty close in terms of most freshwater rods. A clear coat will not add very much weight but any time you're dealing with a paint in order to provide opaque color, the difference is going to run about 5% to 7%. The lighter the color the more paint that may be required.

A painted/coated blank does suffer from some reduction in performance. You just have to decide where your priorities lie - in all out performance or in having something that has greater cosmetic appeal.

...............

An unusual thing about rod coating - It is actually cheaper to finish a blank with a surface coating than for the manufacturer to spend the man hours necessary with highly skilled personnel to produce the unfinished natural graphite surface sheen desired by many.

I wonder what the difference between a dipped blank and a blank that had the finish applied by a squeegy method where it was dragged thru the finish then through a very small hole in a rubber membrane?
Kerry

Sounds like a good subject for a DIY article.