To All......Is there a generally accepted +/- tolerance in degrees off the spline centerline when mounting the reel seat? I realize that 0° off center is the goal, but how much off-center, (left or right), would be acceptable?

Mike,
The simple answer, don't worry about the spline.

Find the straightest axis and build on that.

Good luck

do the best you can, this is your rod yes ??

William Sidney
AK

Spine is very hard to notice on a finished rod. If you want stability when fighting fish the find the spine as accurately as you can and use it. Other priorities may dictate building a different way.

Spinning rods naturally want to ride reel down and are very stable. Even a perfectly spined casting rod is a bit unstable when ben5 because the guides are on top. You just do the best you can.

With a casting rod with the guides on top, even if you perfectly spine and align your rod, it will still want to twist in your hand when under load. For a spinning rod, even if you poorly spine and misalign the rod it will not twist in your hand when loaded. So I totally agree with Roger, forget about the spine and build on the straightest axis. Your guides will now be located on the straightest part of the rod.
Norm

Bill, this is for a customer. It's an MHX 6-1/2', med, med-fast inshore baitcast trout rod.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2018 01:35AM by Mike Martin.

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Mike

I eyeball the blank and find the straightest line and build on that.

John

Thanks to all. Very good article, Tom!

Thanks Tom..

Hi Tom..also in the deadlift article is it true to say that the amount of rod flex at the point of rupture was equal for both samples and that it took a greater load on samples B to reach the same flexpoint of rupture as samples A and that watching how much we flex the rod is as important as the load and gives us an early indication of what,s in store if we keep going..lol.

Yes. The action doesn't change as you rotate the blank, but the power does because a thicker wall resists compression more than a thinner wall.

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It depends if you plan on a straight guide train or a spiral guide train.

It looks like it,s a better idea to build on the straightest axis and not the spine just for the extra power/flex resistance..

A question on a 4 section rod [ fly] what do you build on ? if the sections are not together, [ spline lined up] what will happen ??

William Sidney
AK