Hello,
I bought a NFC blank (SWB807IM) and checking it for the spine, I noticed that it is not perfectly straight.
For about 1 feet, from the TIP, it bends to the left with respect to its spine (I don't know how much, compared to the tip line maybe 1/2 inch).
What can I do? Is it possible to straighten it? I've read that some builders straighten crooked blanks using heat.
What could be the consequences of fishing, if I would use it that way (crooked)?

Thank you for your support
Marco Cellini

The spine is almost never on the straightest axis, nor opposite it either. It will usually be off to one side by anywhere from about 90 to 170 degrees.

And few rod blanks are perfectly straight.

So how bad is the off-set or crook? Is it a gentle bend or flex along the entire length, or a sudden crook from straight out close to the tip? If the former, that's normal. If the latter, you might want to call NFC and ask.

Don't try to straight the blank with heat. Carbon blanks won't react kindly to that. You can build on the straightest axis and ignore the spine (spine doesn't matter) or build on the spine and use it that way.

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You could check the spine on each 1/3 of the rod and see if any of those positions just happens to fall on the straight axis.

What could be the consequences of fishing, if I would use it that way (crooked)?
None...there is no consequences for fishing.

Assuming you are building a casting rod, put the guides on the high side (above the curve) so that they tend to make the curve less. If you keep the curve facing straight up it is much less noticeable. No, it won't affect your fishing. A half inch off in one foot is a pretty large amount and I might think of sending that one back. Once you know the curve is there you make keep looking for it and that may make you dislike the rod, even if it works just fine.

I would be curious what NFC would consider an acceptable deviation. If it's 1/2" in a 1' section, thats about a 2.4 degree angle.

Marco.

1. I never check, nor worry about the spine.

2. Contrary to what other folks might do, if there is a bend in the rod, I build the rod so that the tip is essentially drooping down. Perhaps, one loses a touch of power from the rod by building it this way, but I a user sights along the top of the rod - and many folks do, the bend is essentially invisible to the person who is sighting down the rod.

3. The rod will cast just fine with a bit of bend in the blank and the rod will catch fish just fine with a bit of bend in the blank.

4. If you want to build on the blank with the bend pointing up, then by all means go for it. Your choice. As Mr. Kirkman stated - a significant % or rod blanks delivered will have some deviation from being perfectly straight.

Do what works best for you and the final user of the rod - whomever that might be.

Aligning the blank so any curve is "tip up" also results in a rod that appears straight when sighting down it. It also puts you on the stiffest axis which can better carry the weight of the guides, wraps and finish. This will be the crispest and most responsive position for the rod.

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Jeff, I would contact NFC. Marco, as far as blanks are concerned I get them with more than one bend at times, I have no NFC experience.

Ditto on forgetting about the spine. I chuck it up in the lathe, with the upper rollers free, and rotate it looking for tip high. This locates top for me . This is for a casting rod
I’ve gotten some bananas from NFC, at least it looks straight when you sight down the rod.

I used to employ the spine method until I got my first crooked blank.

Thanks to all for your support, I'll try yours suggestments.

Thank you for your support
Marco Cellini