I hope I don't "start something here. I'd just like to find out what you all folks "in the know" think about this.
1. The rods I build are for SW applications so pinpoint accuracy isn't a factor.
MANY years ago when I learned about spines from Dale Clemens book I built rods as per what I understood the book to say. I didn't (and still don't) have any special kind of "spine finder".
2. The method I use in locating the spine will also reveal the stiffest point on the blank as well. Imagine my surprise when I found out that the "stiffest point isn't necessarily 180 deg from the spine".
3. I decided to make this knowledge work for me in getting the blank to function more to my liking.That is: If I'm building a rod for bottom fishing especially for trout I'll build it with the guides on the softest side so that I'll have a little more cushion against the soft mouth of a trout. If I'm building a rod for jigging bucktails and jigs then I'll put the guides on the stiffest point .
Thsi is also a way to get a rod thats a bit too tight in the tip to comfortably cast a light lure; ie blank rated for 1/8 - 1 oz. build the rod on the softer side and it'll cst that 1/8th oz with a little less effort.
I expect most of you folks will take me to task about this and thats fine; in fact its why I bring it up. Can always learn from the Pros at this site.
Appreciate all commentary. Warren

You are doing exactly what any good custom builder should do - utilizing the blank in the particular manner that gives you the specific fishing charateristics you desire.

There has always been a great danger in believing that there is only one correct postion in which to locate the spine, although many builders believe this to be the case. This notion was developed in large part due to the mistaken belief that spine position determined rod stability. As is becoming more widely understood, it is guide location that determines rod stability.

In the Q&A column in the volume 4 #4 issue of RodMaker, I mentioned that there are 4 basic positions involved in rod set-up; Guides on spine (outside of relaxed curve), Guides opposite spine (inside of relaxed curve), and guides on or opposite the stiffest axis, which is usually found along the blank's natural concave bend. Each will produce slightly different performance characteristics from the same blank. (You'll have to read the article to out the specifics of each - I'm too busy this morning to retype it all here!)

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