eng rod balancing thread

I have run across 2 procedures for rod balancing. (1) says to weigh the small ends & take off material from the small ends to get the small ends equal, then weigh the whole rod & take off material from the big ends till the total whole weights are the same. (2) another says to weigh the small ends & grind the small ends till the small ends are equal then weigh the big ends & take off material from the big ends till the big ends are equal. WHICH IS CORRECT? thank you for your time.