8 speed cassette make up

[fignonFlyer]

I like the idea of building a custom ratio for a 7 speed Shimano Freehub that I have.
Think I should be able to fit an 8 speed cassette but am wondering what the make up of 8 speed cassettes are like. Are most of the sprockets fixed together or are they loose along with the spacers. Reason being I could do with a closer range of the bigger sprockets to suit the local terrain, and for me cannibalising 2 cassettes would be worth it.

 

[hamster]

If it's 7 speed then the 8 won't fit. However, apart from the spacers and top cog, you can use 8 speed sprockets to build a custom cassette.

Use a cheaper one (HG70 or lower) as they don't have the fancy alloy sprocket carrier. You can then shuffle the cogs. I have done something similar in the past by combining an 11-28 with a 13-24.

 

[Old Ned]

Even the 'fixed' cassettes can revert to individual sprockets by filing off the rivet heads or removing the screws depending on version.

 

[fignonFlyer]

Thanks for the warning about 8 not going into 7.
Picked up a 7 speed cassette today where 6 of the 7 are joined to make it easier to slide onto the free hub, so like mentioned i’ll need to remove the pins that hold them together.