Any rod guys know what popular blank the HM85 blank is close to in quality and sensitivity? 

I can't help, but smalljaw67 can if he sees this post.  Or you can send him a PM.  If you need a way to contact him, he has a post in this thread.

 

 

Can you elaborate on what you're trying to match?  HM85 doesn't ring any bells initially. Is that an NFC reference?

Can you elaborate on what you're trying to match?  HM85 doesn't ring any bells initially. Is that an NFC reference?

16 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Can you elaborate on what you're trying to match?  HM85 doesn't ring any bells initially. Is that an NFC reference?

Can you elaborate on what you're trying to match?  HM85 doesn't ring any bells initially. Is that an NFC reference?

I'm not too knowledgeable about blanks but I do know that Lew's calls their Custom Speed Stick Lite an HM85 Blank. 

Yeah, that's the rod I'm looking at. I've had one with the HM60 title and it was okay.

 

I have no personal experience with that rod. What characteristics that set it apart are you looking to duplicate?

HM85 is the modulus of graphite, not a specific blank.  it also just means that there is some of the high modulus graphite in the rod and not necessarily the whole blank.  That being said, Bass Pro used HM85 in most of their high end rods in years past.  the old black Carbonlites, Johnny Morris signature series. and walleye series.  those were all good rods for their price.  personally I'd take a new St Croix SCIII Mojo or SCII Premier if the price was similar.

What he said.  HM stands for High Modulus and the 85 is the pressure used to form the sheet of graphite. That particular combination has been used for many MH power rods with fast actions, but as Allen Der mentioned the designation doesn't mean that only that one material was used exclusively when building the blank.

All rod blanks are classified as a composite because of the binding epoxy, scrim, etc. used in the blanks construction. If they use even one fiber of material in the blank they can legally call it anything they want. The HM 85 designation in truth doesn't have to mean anything, HM can mean anything, or nothing. The company and the copy writer just waits for us to fill in the blanks when we see it used.

No one has a graphite out of the 60's that won't turn into shrapnel if not used sparingly, in a multi-modulus layup, and only in the heavy, durable butt area.