I'm looking for a 9' two-piece blank with the extreme fast tip of a hot-shot blank to cast weights of around 1/2 ounce. I would appreciate your suggestions.

Couldn't you stretch a Batson HS1021?

Phil,
Check out all of the new rods from batson. Many have extra fast tips on them.

Be safe

Are you sure you need a hot shot-type extra fast blank to cast 1/2 oz. weights? There is e.g. the Batson XST1082F steelhead blank. Casts up to 1/2 oz., line up to 10 lb. Similar blank specs are available from St.Croix and North Fork Composites. However all these blanks are fast action.
Cheers,
Michal

Mike: I built a fly rod on a Batson 8 1/2 foot hotshot blank. It made an easy loading, smooth and long casting 11 wt. fly rod. I would like to build another - for my own use - but in the 9 wt. range, which explains the 1/2 ounce specification. That's what the first 30 feet of a nine weight line weighs. The tip-action and powerful butt of a hotshot taper blank make a fine fly rod at a fine price.

9'? Sounds to me like a custom blank ...

Thanks, Michal, you jarred my hide-bound brain. I can extend the butt of a mass-produced hot-shot blank to produce the radius/tip speed I want in a fly rod.
NOW I am looking for a hot-shot or similar blank 7'6'' or longer that will effectively cast a weight of up to 1/2 ounce. Any suggestions? If I can obtain such a blank I am quite confident I can build a 9 wt. fly rod which will perform very near as well as an $850 fly rod for a fraction of the price and many times more satisfaction for me.

HS9600-2-MHX - good stuff and will not break the bank :-)

Phil, which blank did you build the 11 weight on?

I have the hs9600-2 mhx but have not tried a fly reel on it. It will handle a 1/2 ounce but likes less.....it will cast 1/16 ounce. I also have a hs1023f built as a spinning rod and I did put a fly reel on it with 7 weight line. Did quite good and wouldn't think it needed 11 weight to come alive so I'm curious. Then I was casting two handed and more than 30 feet of line:)

I strongly agree with what you are thinking. I suggested that they would make a dandy "blue water" fly rod that would actually cast a fly a good distance. Tom has mentioned building on back bounce blanks so you might give them a try. I also think a live bait blank would do the trick and suggest trying a rclb80xl. I have one and the price is a good bit lower. Nice soft limber tip with a big butt.....composite so rugged....still surprisingly light in the hand....but I think it might come out a little higher line class than hoped for. 50 bucks....and if you need to clamp down on a 20# tippet and turn that fish....I'd feel comfortable promising you the line breaks first.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Russ: I wish I could remember, but I think it was a 2-piece Rainshadow blank. I guarantee you it throws a bobby-pin loop if you have a moderate ability to double-haul, and it has enough backbone to deal with saltwater fish over 25 pounds. I'm too old and too old school to go two-hands. I'm thinking about a Rainshadow HS1021F blank but It might be the same as the one I have had for years? There is a deflection test which accurately determines the best fly line weight for a blank - any blank - but marketers provide more hype than objective information.