I'm working on a project that involves making two custom built rods from the same blank, one to a customers specs and one a personal build to see how much weight I can cut off the build without being silly and still get a good rod that looks great and fishes well. I'll also compare to the factory built version. I'll write about them more later but as part of this process I started weighing all my guides and a few other components along the way.

Jim if you're reading this I'll send you the file down the track when I have some more weights.

Some very interesting data I just got.

In the MN frame there is a greater than 40% weight reduction when going from a size 10 to a size 8. You wouldn't think that when looking at them side by side. There are similar weight reductions in the larger guides percentage wise which is expected as the frame sizes change a lot. The weight reduction from a 12 to a 10 is in the low 20% region.

ICMNSG weigh less than CMNAG, BMNAG and MNSG.

TORZITEs are around 9.5 to 12.8% lighter in the comparable Titanium K SIC.

A Fuji rubber butt cap in size 19, fairly standard for baitcasters, is a whopping 17.3 grams compared to an EVA butt cap of only 5.8g.
Eva grips weigh a lot more than what I thought too. A fairly slim Fuji rear VSS grip for a size 17 seat is 18.6 grams. Some other interesting stuff too..... Stay tuned....

Yes, I'd like to have the data. Thanks.

Interesting ... I'll be following this thread

I am wrapping a rod right now with Fuji Titanium / Torzite Guides and the guides are AMAZING! Super light and the ring openings on the #4's are +/- same size as a #5 SIC. 'Didn't measure or weigh them but I could not feel the weight of a #4 Torzite guide in my hand!

Don Campbell
don@sensorfishingrods.com

I would like to know how the percentage of these weight savings to other guide trains compare to the percentage of weight savings for the whole rod, and the total weight of the rod, reel, line, and the weight being cast. When I am fishing all these percentages count, some a whole lot more than others.

The overall weight difference is likely to be of greater importance. The difference between 5 and 10 ounces, vs 5 and 10 grams, is 50% in both cases, but one will have a much greater impact than the other.

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

The guide train for one of these rods is using Fuji KWAGs. A 25, 16, 12 and three 10s to a 10 tip. The second is the Torzites with a guide train of 25, 16, 10 and three 8s to an 8 tip. I dropped down in the Torzites as you can see as that's one of the advantages. The weight saving was 50%. I'll put the exact numbers up in a few days on that but it was about 8 grams saved. I haven't built the rod yet so can only estimate the final rod weight using all the component weights I also did. Chucking some glue and Epoxy on I got around the 215 gram mark total build so the saving compared to the total rod build is under 4%.
That will vary with build to build and the Fuji doc that was released also have a few examples from memory.
Anyway I'll make a new post down the track when they are both done.
I'm also making other weight reductions on the TORZITE rod as part of the project.
Cheers, Mark.

Make the grip from about 4 inches of cork and tape on the reel. Tough to find anything lighter.
Then, put an inch long cork butt cap at the end of the rod.

Be safe