Hey Guys,

So I just got my first blank in today and I've read about how to find the spine on the blank, but I don't really understand. I took it out of the package and stood it up on the floor and put a hand on the tip and pushed on the side of it with my other hand and the rod bends obviously, but I don't get how that finds the spine. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

there are spine finders at most of the jobbers on the left , the spine is as the rods are made it will be thicker on one side
then the other, will bend one way easy er than the other, the better the rod the harder to find , get the spine finder it is worth the money I think
some buildesr don't use it at all an just build on the strightest line,

William Sidney
AK

Many builders put the guides on the straightest axis of the blank. It can be found by putting the blank on a flat surface like a table. The blank will roll to a stable position where the belly of the curve is down and tip is up. The guides go on the bottom for spinning, fly, and spiral after the transition from the top and all on top for conventional casting rods. Doing a "Search" for prior discussions on using or not using the spine for building may also help.

Check out this video, it might help you:
[www.youtube.com]

Here's another shorter video:
[www.youtube.com]

The new CRB Spine finder is also available at:
[www.mudhole.com]

Regards.
Team Mud Hole Custom Tackle
Web: [www.mudhole.com]
Email: sales@mudhole.com
Toll Free Phone #: 1-866-790-RODS (7637)

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/2014 09:53AM by Mud Hole Custom Tackle.

Finding and building on the "spine" is a carry over from when the spine in blanks was both very noticeable and strong. With today's modern blanks it is less noticeable and almost irrelevant. It has no measurable effect on casting or fighting a fish.

Building on the straightest axis provides for a straight line of sight down the guides which can be very important to many custom rod buyers.

Good Morning Logan (here in Oregon),
When I first began building rods in the late 1950s, finding the spine and building on the spine was the Holy Grail. In more modern times rod builders and rod blank manufacturers have found that the spine has little or no effect on how the rod functions. The effect of guides, thread, and epoxy finish is much greater than that of the spine.
To get an idea of what causes a spine take a jumbo burrito tortilla and role it up. The end of the roll is slightly thicker than at other places on the role. That is where you find the spine of the rolled tortilla. The same is true for a rod blank except it is far more complex because of the way the graphite "cloth" is cut and shaped.

As others have already advised, simply find the straightest axis and build on that. Good luck with your project.
Mike Blomme

what I found out was to sit i a chair and take the blank and lay it across both thighs with butt end at one hold blank down with one hand and push tip end down with other hand and roll across our high you can fell were the spine is when you roll it back and forth. no need for spine finder.

What I learned to do was hold the blank by the butt with the tip on the floor and extended away from me at about a 45 degree angle to the floor. Gently apply pressure as close to the middle of the blank length as you can reach. The blank will roll to one side or the other.
I mark that side with a grease pencil or a 1/4 inch piece of masking tape. Then I release the pressure and roll the blank a bit and do it all over again.

I keep this up until I find the spot where , under pressure as described above, the blank rolls to consistently.

Once you get the hang of it, it only takes a few minutes.

I've been converted to building on the straightest axis by reading Tom Kirkman's article. As soon as you put guides on a rod and apply any pressure with line, the spine becomes completely irrelevant.

Plus, building on the straightest axis makes lining up guides a heck of an easier task.

When I roll my burrito and place one end on the floor, it kinda collapses with pressure in various directions. I'm not getting something here....

eric
fresno, ca.

Ya got to fry it so it gets hard Then it rolls better

Bill - willierods.com

To answer your question without commenting on whether or not the spine is important or not, the easiest way to find the spine is to put the butt of the rod on a hard flat surface and with the upper portion in one hand, rotate the rod with enough pressure to make it bend. As it rotates you will find a spot where the blank will try to "jump" either one direction or the other. That is the spine of the rod. You can mark it either on a piece of masking tape that you previously placed around the blank or with a crayon or china pencil. Then check that mark as to the straightest sighting of the blank when you look down it from butt to tip. Not going to recommend what you do from that point on. Too many opinions either way.

Well Gee Whiz Eric,
I just meant it as an illustration so one could see how it occurs. LOL.

Mike Blomme

eric if you are going to roll your burrito on the floor, you probably shouldn't eat it!!

Ok, don't use a burrito, fried or regular style (i wasn't hungry anyway)

Randolph has it right. Even the first part he alludes to if you read between the lines. There's no need to purchase a "spine finder."

See FAQ starting with #2: [www.rodbuilding.org]

Keep in mind that you test each section individually. "The OUTSIDE of this curve is referred to as the "effective spine" and should be marked for reference." Read all items from #2-#6 but especially #6. You and I, Logan, are working with fly rods.

Personally, i no longer place much importance on using the spine though i may try to find it first, or not.

eric
fresno, ca.

Depends on how clean his floor is, if he just disinfect it he'll be ok. After all our pets readily gulp whatever we drop on the floor and they're ok as are babies.

Seriously, I have more problems determining where the top half's ferrule comfortably sits into the bottom half as not all ferrules are made absolutely cylindrical unlike metal ferrules. I had a rod once that moved under fishing pressure showing me that alignment was not correct. My other rods never demonstrated that problem

There is NO reson to find the spine -- At All
It has been said here Years ago that it make no difference in the performance of the rod
Your guides will not move as Guides on a spinning rod will not Turn Upward - Yes there was a post that this happened - Impossible

Try a Search On Spine - and you will come up with a lot of reading on the subject
if there is a slight curve in the blank just put that pointing upward and build

Bill - willierods.com

There are opinions, and then there are facts. Spine importance has no facts - only opinion and conjecture. The opposite is supported by the laws of physics.

................

And those opinions and conjecture are supported by decades of (mis?)information. It's a tough, endless battle.

One thing I DO know, I am equally, nay, GLORIOUSLY unsuccessful, getting skunked when built-on, opposite or disregarding the location of guides in relation to the effective spine. :)

(i'm just truly amazed that nobody has referred to it inaccurately as the spline. whew!)

eric
fresno, ca.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/2014 09:19PM by eric zamora.

OK Tom

What the heck does that statment mean

Bill - willierods.com