Just curious, since I have been looking at Factory numbers compared to my latest numbers. I just built two 7' Medium Heavy micro rods, both came in at 3.9oz. One was EVA gripped, with BLAG4J's Pac Bay Minima seat. The other with a Cork handle and the Fuji Titanium SiC micros at 3.5 ring size. Even converting the scale to grams, both came in at 109grams.

Better than most factory numbers. How light have some of you been able to build?

It is possible to build some pretty light rods depending on application, my lightest bass rods are 7 foot crankbait rods that end up weighing about 2.4oz – 68g complete.

The way to find out if you are building the lightest way possible is to weigh the finished rod and the blank, the goal is to add the least amount of weight possible and still have a reliable rod.

my first build came in at just over 2.5 oz. batson xsb783, batson micro 4's, pac bay minima casting seat, minimal cork split grip. it was also blinged out!

Mike is right.

If you base it on total weight, you're going to get wierd numbers due to blank weights varying. I typically add 1.25oz to a 7' rod.

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Alex,

I agree, so I guess a better question is how little weight have you been able to add for a complete build.

1.25 added is my norm on a 7' rod. I could get "lower" if I wanted - like around 1 oz - but that seems to be a good blend of weight and functionality.

A quick way to drop weight is to not use a minima. Split a Fuji ECS for another .25 oz savings. The minima seats weigh as much as full ECS.

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Alex, is the ECS a better choice to cut down than the ECSM? I was planning on using the ECSM for an MHX 7' MH blend blank.

Many options available:

Ed when you refer to a "blend" blank are you talking about a graphite or glass blend. Many of the large diameter glas blend blank like the Seeker BC706 really do well with a cut down size 17.0 seat - extremely light weight.

The diameter of the blank at the placement point is really important to the choice of seat working.

This one does not require up front arbor -

[www.rodbuilding.org]

The percentage of weitht removed for an existing blank exposed seat is a function of what diameter blank is involved.

The densitiy of the material the seat is made of has a lot to say.

Weight reduction in the seat area can be quite confusing to those who are only concerned by dropping the rods overall weight to the exclusion of other important issues like ergonometrics, reel stability and rod balance..

Bill, Love that pic, when I first saw that pic long ago, that's what really sparked my interest in modding my own parts. Ergonomics are important, but I'm thinking for my own rod, I'm going to even drill holes in the trigger as you stated you did, then drill out some of the hood and take a few mm off the back end of the seat and even the hood nut. Even ditching the aluminum checks and going with rubber or none at all with eva grips.

Check the weight of Mudhole MHX blanks.

Weight --- no finish on the blank - shortest guide feet possible . may be just several coats of Permagloss -- No Pretty Wraps Buy the lightest seats and guides possible ---- then weight them - too be sure

I am hearing that several suppliers have mistakes on there sites ??? So ask to be sure

Bill - willierods.com