Could someone tell me where I could get plans to build a simple spine finder? I'm not against buying one but I just like to build things such as my own tools if possible. I think I could handle this if I could just get pointed in the right direction. Thank you.

Andy,
Not much too them. If you mean the ball-bearings-in-a-tube type, just get two ball bearings with about 3/4 or 1" ID, and perhaps 2" OD. A piece of PVC pipe 2" ID about 9" long. I use whatever PVC fittings I can find to hold the bearings at each end, centered. At the butt end, a plain cap for the pipe will do. At the open end, improvise some kind of fitting to just hold the bearing. I mounted my piece of pipe on a board by cross drilling it; say 3/16 holes on one side for screws, and 3/8 holes opposite those to get a screwdriver tip in to tighten those screws. A couple panhead screws fasten it to a board. Some like to have the tube mounted at an angle so it looks like a cannon that would shoot across the room; it may be just as good to mount the tube to a flat board, and clamp that board to your benchtop for use. The adjustable-angle cannon type is probably more complicated than necessary. Make sure the edges of the inside bore are eased over, so the edge doesn't start cracking the blank when you flex it hard (ask me how I know?) If there's a bearing supply house in your town, a quick visit should fix you up, maybe $10/bearing. Or you could scrounge them for a lot less as salvage somewhere.

The newer type, the vertical style, uses just one ball bearing mounted flat in or on a board maybe 6" square, and pressed into that bearing is a "point" kind of like the working end of a lathe live center. The back end press fits into the bearint. The pointed end is about a 60 to 90 degree cone, with its large diameter bigger than your biggest rod blank section. If you're at all handy on a lathe, either wood or metal, it's no biggie to turn that point to fit. I used aluminum.

For either bearings, the heavy grease that comes in them is probably too stiff for this use; rinse out the bearing well with solvent, and relubricate with light oil. Get the working surfaces clean then so it doesn't contaminate the blank.

The May/June 1999 issue of RodMaker had complete plans for making your own spinefinder from some simple parts. I'm sure you could pick up the back issue and get the plans. I followed the plans and built my own. Spent about $8 or so for everything and it works great.

They also showed how to make a vertical spine finder in the issue either right after that or the one after that. I can't remember. Rick is right about the bearings though, you need to thoroughly clean them. Grease is bad, light oil is good.