how do you find the spine on a three piece rod??? do you find it in all three or jsut the tip??? it seems that the 2 other bottom pieces are pretty stiff... i dont even know how to find a spine... any suggestions on this 3 piece???

I would really, really like to say that three piece rods don't come with a spine. LOL

In all seriousness, it doesn't matter - build on the straightest axis. I suggest that if you want more information, do a search of the forum on the keywords "finding spine" - you will have plenty of reading to do.

Gerald,
Look up in the left corner of this page and click on FAQs and read question and answers 2 through 5 that explain about the spine better than I can. You can also go to the top of the message board and click on search and type in spine.
Hope this helps.

Lynn

Gerald, I like building multi-segmented rods. I usually don't worry too much about spining any section, but the last couple of segments if the bottom pieces are too short or stiff. Many vendors will identify the spine for you by marking the location of the spine, just inside each blank segment, and even warn the builder against spining due to the possiblity of breakage because the segments being much shorter than typical one or two-piece rods.
If you prefer to spine the rod, I would only recommend spining the tip top. If effectively spining the rod is too difficult, or the results are unsatisfactory,then I would also take as a secondary course of building along the straightest axis as Jim Gamble suggested.

Good luck.