I'm working on my 3rd pole. My 1st one the guy at the shop set the tip for me on a spincasting rod, When I do the "spine test" on it as shown on a few sites & in Kirkman's book. with the blank bent the tiptop eye is pointed downwards, (spine on the bottom?? ). If I do the same technique for a bait casting rod, the spine rolls (just like above) what is the direction of the tiptop?? do I set it so that the tiptop points downwards when I do the spine test again, or should the eye be pounting up?

I'm really confused on this, and would like to get it right.

Thanks

Rich

You can't get it wrong, as there is no correct position for the spine. If you'll read the short spine section on the FAQs page, I think you'll understand the 3 most popular orientations and be able to decide which one you want to go with.

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You'll probably get several answers to this, but here is how I learned to build. Once you identify the spine, mark it with a china marker or whatever works. Not sure how you are flexing the blank, but lets assume this. You put the butt on a flat level surface, supporting the tip section with your left hand pushing upward, and rolling the blank with your right hand. Once you identify the spine, it will be on top of the direction you are flexing, in other words in the palm of your hand. Associating guides to the spine seems to be a bit of personal preference and theory. I choose when possible, to locate my spinning guides opposite the mark I made or under the affective spine. For casting guides, I choose to line the guides up with the mark I made or on the affective spine. The theory being that you are lifting with the strongest part of the blank. Other methods apply more to casting distance then lifting power, while others ignore it all together and build on the straighest axis.

Thanks Tom & Shawn... is that your book that I'm referring to??

I'm pushing the blank down with my hand and rolling the blank (opposite of your eaxmple). I can definitely feel it "pop" is you will. So by pushing down on the blank the spine wil be on the bottom, against the sirface that I'm rolling it against. (as you can see I'm confused)

-Rich

The isn't anywhere, really. It's an effect, not a physical thing. So, when you pressure the blank and allow it to roll to the position it favors and come to rest there, you need to mark it for reference. Most builders put a mark on the outside of the bend (which will be the side facing the table in your case) and call that the effective spine. Now what you do with that is up to you.

Do keep in mind that the stiffest and softest axis on the blank are rarely directly opposite each other.

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I'm noticing that... just got the Ken Peterson DVD today :)
I'm more of a visual learner and seeing the demo made more sense to me.

I am noticing that the effective spine is how my other 2 poles are setup. This one when I rol it I feel to "high spots" different than the spine I have defined now, one rolls fairly easy the other is pretty tuff to roll over. I guess I'll need to decied what feels best.

-Rich