Currently blank makers use several different systems to describe the graphite in their rods: IM10, ScIV, 30 ton, etc. I have no idea what, if anything, these ratings reveal about the actual physical properties or potential performance of a blank. Could someone help me understand what useful information is revealed by any of these systems?

Here's a piece from Gary Loomis that may help explain some of what your looking for.

[www.kistlerrods.com]

This is a pretty good explanation: [www.dwfonline.com]

Hi,

Good articles. Graphite rod buyers should be made to read Gary Loomis's article a couple of times before buying a graphite rod.

Capt Neil Faulkner

Even builders I got it on my favorites

Bill - willierods.com

That article from Gary is great. It is really nothing I didn't know just a great way of explaining it. That article will become a sales tool for me in the shop. Especially the part about a rod for everyone. I don't always think that way pointing people toward what I would use instead of what the guy can "handle".

The articles were informative, but I'm still in the dark about what the modulus and strain rate are for "30 ton" graphite , "IM 10" graphite, and "SCIV" graphite or how they compare to one another. These descriptions are presented as objective measurements by marketers?

The actual product name for the various carbon fibers are not necessarily what the rod companies cook up for their own catalogs. In other words, SCIV graphite may be a 33 ton fiber from Hercules, or something or somebody else. The rod companies aren't generally fond of telling you exactly what product they're using, of course, as they really don't want you to be able to make across the board comparisons to other rod companies.

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

This why I'm really digging into the CCS System and starting to collect data and label rods.