So now that we have determined that the Dan Craft multi-piece rods come with the spine marked, what do the marks signify? Is that the line you put the guides on or is it the other side?

This is turning out to be a nightmare. Making multi piece rods is a pain in the rear. Due to the confusion I have come to a screaching halt. The grip (I did Rattan over cork) and butt wrap have been done for sometime now all I seem to be doing is spinning my wheels...HELP.

Spencer Bass

Please read the FAQs page. There is no right or wrong axis to put the guides on. Some people put them on the spine, some go opposite, some put them on the blank's stiffest axis, others put them on the straightest axis. You're confusing yourself for no reason. The FAQs page has enough on rod spine to set things right for you.


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Tom:

I have read all of that and what I am confused about is what the marks define. Is it marking the top or bottom of the spine?

Spencer

The spine is not a thing. It's a property referenced by a mark. Normally, when you pressure a blank and allow it to spin and come to rest in the position it desires, you put your reference mark on the outside of that pressured curve. I can only assume that Dan marks his blanks in this fashion, but you could check with him just to make sure. I'm sure he'll answer an email from you as soon as he can.

In the FAQs page you may have noticed the Q&A on the 3 most often used spine positions. The situations there would all reference this mark as being on the outside of the pressured curve.

So with the blank pressured and allowed to spin to the most relaxed position (not where it jumps or kicks) the ouside of that position is referred to as the "effective spine." Keep that position in mind. Then, when Dan lets you know what his mark represent you can properly reference that position. But I'd bet he puts the mark on the outside of the curve when the blank is pressured and allowed to come to rest.

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Thank You Tom.

Spencer

Spencer. I put my guides on the marked side (fly rod). You mention that multi-piece blanks are a pain. Why so? You join them for wrapping. The hardest part is adjusting the guides so that there is one on every female ferrule. But even this is an indirect advantage, because you already know where 1 guide will be located on each section of blank. I also love rattan grips. Did you spiral on an accent thread? I have used scarlet and gold. Try to have fun!

Boy you have opened up a can of worms. I have never heard of putting a guide on the ferrule, I have just wrapped it for strength.

As for the grip I put a blue thread between each band and it did nicely to just accent each band of rattan.

Spencer

Once again I don't understand. Why would anybody want rattan on a grip. It would seem to me that the combination of fish slime, scales and everything else you have to contend with would make it so slippery you could not hold on to it. Is this a freshwatrer flyfishing thing? John Butterffield

Stress on the rod reaches a peak directly between any pair of guides, the exact mid point being where the greatest stress occurs. This is why it is sometimes preferrable to have a guide located directly on top of a ferrule.

However, provided you do not overly skimp on the number of guides used, it's not absolutely necessary to locate a guide on the ferrule.

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I have, based on Dans advice, always put the the guides on the side of the rod he has marked. If you have questions email or call Dan. He is always glad to help.
Nate

John. You must try rattan! With cork looking increasingly ratty these days, the rattan really looks great. Because of the ridges, your grip is as good as cork. Varnish over the entire grip, so the surface is slick. Very retro. As to salt, I would use EVA or wood grip.

Don, I like cork over AVA in the salt because it is porous. Cork will soak up some of what gets on it and AVA just gets slippery. I really don't care how bad the cork looks. If you saw some of my well fished rods this would be obvious. I wash off my rods after fishing but not everything comes off. I also put hooks into the cork and that make them look even worse. I hate to admit this but it is true. John Butterfield