Weight differences between one and two piece blanks

[mikeyh]

Hello all,
Another question as I have time to write- flat on my back with the flu Looking through the angler rods catalogue, I cant understand why the FSU4120 & 4120G are so much lighter in 2 piece (nearly 25%) than one piece but almost identical in the 5120 series ( 2 piece slightly heavier). I have quite a few rods based on the straight 4120's and with that aggressive taper, really wondered what a 2p would be like. I am going to purchase a 4120G in one piece but was curious about the weight diffences.

Cheers, Mike

[Stuart]

I will try to explain this the best I can. A 1 piece blank will always weigh less than the same blank in a 2 peice. Why is it so you ask? A 2pc blank dosent weigh more simply because it has 2 sections but rather the extra material (cloth) of material reqiered to maintain the same or very similier action as the 1pc model. Because the 2pc must have a smaller middle section or join it will simply need more cloth to keep the action and power needed to keep it within a pooftinth of the 1pc model. A 1pc blank can rely more on its taper from butt to tip to gain action and power, the 2pc blank having a smaller mid section join in order to accept the tip section simply reqieres more material to keep the same power. If you use the exact same amount of cloth as you do in the 1pc but in a 2pc it would have roughly half the power, sport a slower action and have half the power of a 1pc. Material and diameter play a crucial part in designing any blank. A good example of this is in most bass and bream blanks. The tip OD is very small and a the smaller the OD the further it can bend The larger the OD the less it will bend.

[mikeyh]

Thanks as always Stu for your detailed answer. From your reply I would take it that the 2 piece in 4120 series must really have a very different action OR there is a mistake on the website in terms of tech details.

cheers, Mike

[Stuart]

The 4120 and the 4120G are essentially the same. The 4120 is all glass anf the 4120G has around 3 glass wraps less along with 2 or 3 wraps of carbon. For every 1 wrap of carbon you can remove around 2-3 wraps of glass as the carbon is so much stiffer especially when wrapped on the outside. I take it thats what you want to know?

[mikeyh]

Not exactly, but now I know about the construction method which is interesting. According to the Angler rods spec sheet on their website, the straight 4120 blank in 1P weighs 320g yet the 2 P weighs 255g. In the 4120G series, the differences are 295g for 1P, 237g for 2 piece.....this is what has been confusing to me. These differences arent in the 5120's.
Cheers Stu, Mike

[Stuart]

Um, ok that should be the other way around. Got me stuffed mate.

[mikeyh]

Maybe a mistake? I just couldnt understand the huge difference - I understand what you have said and everything you said made sense. Thanks anyway for your time to send a reply. Knowing the taper and the thin walls , I will most likely get a one piece 4120G...think I have a friend making a road trip in July from Bris to the gulf...so she can collect and drop in.

cheers, Mike