Ok, I know this is a totally newb question but well that's what i am at this. How do you check if your guides are all straight? Just by eye or is there some other way?

Thanks for your patience and help.

I just look at them. You can use thread or lasers and other gizmos but I just pick it up and sight it down.

Eye it from the backside

I take an old reel base (Sm reels work too) and put it in the reel seat and use that to help me set the guides then I turn it upside down to make sure the rod splits the guide rings just for extra measure. Helps if you look towards a lighted area.

I mark the spine, unless the blank has a slight bend, then the bend goes up. Glue the seat, then glue the tip top on. As I wrap on the guides from the tip, eye each as done up and down

Thanks for all the tips guys, much appreciated. Just one more question though...6'6" baitcast rod (G.Loomis MB782C IMX), spine on top or bottom??

Check the Faqs page above.

Thomas, the spine really doesn't matter. These days, most folks follow what is the straightest line. If there is a bit of a curve, they place it either up or down. Myself, being a creature of habit though I can be taught with much effort, assuming I have a very straight blank and a pronounced spine, I do sort of a coin flip. Do I want the "weak" side towards the fish or me? From then on, there really isn't any science, but more instinct in that I just go with what feels best, or at least, more natural. I know it sounds corny, but I just let the blank talk to me.

In general, I usually put the weak side towards the fish, unless I think the blank will perform better doing the opposite. Sometimes a whippy UL gets some stones by flipping it 180. Sometimes a stiff, larger rod might give a bit more lure action with the limp side down. Go with what you feel is good.

There's no right or wrong way to build on the blank you are using. It's all about what you want and what you feel. Sorry if this sounds like "wing of bat, eye of newt", but welcome to the addiction:)

Well said, Mick McC: ... / Soft spine / soft curve / towards the fish, no internal torsion, is my preference. -Cliff Hall+++

Similar to how Doc Ski dies it - I use the reel foot plate from an International 30 (flate piece of metal approx 2" x 2") mounted in reel seat. I the flip for over and sight down the back the of the rod and check to see that the guides appear uniformaly square with the reel foot plate.

I tried the string method, tried the laser alignment tool mounted on lathe, and would STILL wind up double-checking it "manually" by eyeballing the alignment. If the alignment looks good visually then it must be good, whereas with the alignment tool this was not the case - if it looked ok in the lathe with the alignment tool many times it looked off when out of the lathe......

Lou