How current is the CCS Database in the link on the left ? Am I right in assuming that values listed there are from several different contributors ? ( There are just too many cases where the same blank model is listed with different values . ) I've been lurking on the recent thread about IP, AA, ERN, etc.
Thanks.
Ron

It's not very current because only a few builders have sent data. To your question about different values for the same blank - data is only as good as the person generating it. There are, of course, minor variations among blanks of the same model. Blanks are not precision machined parts - a lot of manual labor goes into making them. The best results would come from the blank manufacturers but even those that initially adopted the CCS have gotten away from it, preferring to use their own "system" for describing their blanks.

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Tom Kirkman Wrote:
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> It's not very current because only a few builders
> have sent data. To your question about different
> values for the same blank - data is only as good
> as the person generating it. There are, of course,
> minor variations among blanks of the same model.
> Blanks are not precision machined parts - a lot of
> manual labor goes into making them. The best
> results would come from the blank manufacturers
> but even those that initially adopted the CCS have
> gotten away from it, preferring to use their own
> "system" for describing their blanks.

Thank you . The variations are certainly minor and of little to no functional significance . Just wondered if they were due to measurement technique or blank variation .
Since you mentioned manufacturers , are their "systems" proprietary ? I have also wondered what "system" they use for lure weight ranges . If there is anyone with more knowledge of the industry than you , I don't know of him/her so I thought I'd ask .
Thanks again .
Ron

Manufacturer ratings follow the time honored "guess and by golly" technique, and even regional water and fishing differences are involved.

Manufacturers typically use a given amount of weight and then per the deflection attained will assign a power rating to the rod. This was a system developed by Cortland back in the 60's. It had some flaws in that you could not use the same weight constant for all types of rods. The amount of weight that would double up an ultra-light light rod wouldn't begin to deflect a surf rod. So different weight constants are used which results in the power ratings being unique for each rod type. A 4-power bass rod won't have the same power as a 4-power saltwater rod. And they don't all use the same weight or deflection scales. So a 6-power Loomis and a 6-power Batson or whatever are not likely to have the exact same power.

Casting weight is somewhat subjective and due to different casting styles a general range of casting lure weights is given. Blank designers can usually take a known model and add or subtract material as needed to move the casting weight range up or down as required, to obtain a higher or lower casting weight range.

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Really appreciate y'all taking the time to help me with this . Perhaps you can understand that , with all of the above being true , it is difficult for new comers to feel comfortable buying " a pig in a poke" . I guess it's like a lot of things where you have to pay your dues and get a little experience under your belt . That can be disheartening for old codgers :)
Thanks again.
Ron

It is but you do have the years of experience from folks on this forum. If you know what you want to do and have a few blanks in mind, do not hesitate to ask the users here which model they think will fit your needs best.

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