I build light rods for trout and soft mouthed kokanee. I use a ball bearing type spine finder. My question is that on some light tips I find two distinct curves 180 degrees apart. The last blanks were St. Croix 3S80MLM2. Even trying rolling on the bench with the old method I can get two positions. Is this normal and what am I doing wrong? Any help is welcome.

Thanks, Larry

I do check for the spine but I try and build on the straitest axis on the rod and most of the time that follows the spine of the rod not sure if this will help you but thats how I do it.

Brent Keever
Building friendships through custom rods

Put a piece of masking tape around the blank. Mark the spines you've found A and on the other side, B. Set a marble on the floor. Push down on the tip. Push it down 10 times. Use the side that comes up most as your spine. One side will most likely be more prominent than the other; stiffer.

Putter
Williston, ND

You're not doing anything wrong. Some blanks are like this. Some aren't.

The outside of the curve of the softer of the two axis is your effective spine. However, do keep in mind that using a spine finder or even the marble on the floor does not in any way approximate what happends when a fish loads the rod. What you do with rod spine is up to you, but it will little to no practical effect on the rod in an actual fishing situation.

.................

Thanks everyone. Dumb questions are easier to deal with than dumb mistakes.

Larry

Nothing dumb about your question.

Larry,
It is not unusual to find two spines that are 180 degrees apart.
After checking for a spine - make not if one spine is a bit stiffer than the other. If one is stiffer go with that spine.

However, as or more important is to check for any curves in the blank, that may or may not line up with the spine.

If you do have any type band in the blank - be sure to always place the bend so that it bends down at the tip. This - placement of any possible bend in the blank - should be done before making any changes due to the spine. However, if you do have a spine that is on line with any potential bends in the blank - use both the spine - in conjunction with any slight or major bend in the blank. Again - always align the guides - spine - so that any bend in the blank bends downward - when the rod is held in its normal position.

Roger

Roger,

When you say "bend" down, do you mean the "belly" should be down and the tip pointing up?? That is the way it should go as when you wrap the guides, ithe weight will tend to bring the tip down and help to straighten the blank

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!