I've got a G-USA blank with 2 spines. They seem to be equal. Anyway I turn the blank either of the two spines will turn up and they seem to be 180 degrees from each other. So, I reckon it doesn't matter which spine I build on as long as they're equal right?

Thanks,
Steve

If they're really equal which they probably aren't. Put the butt on a marble and press straight down on the tip. It should flex along the same plane each time now and that will be the effective spine. Don't remember where I got that tip but that's how I spine all my blanks now and it works really well.

The use of Don Morton's vertical spine finder should also indicate the effective spine just as Russell's marble.

What you have discovered, in what you call two spines exactly opposite each other, is the condition that Don Morton looks for to build his high performance rods.

I did the marble trick like Russell said and it worked great because the two spines were not equal. It did come around every time to one of the spines I marked. I used a marble on the bottom and a shot glass to press down on the tip. When I tried to spine the blank by rolling in my hand and pressing down on it, it seemed to jump to two spines. Now that I know where the real spine is, it is time to do that spiral wrap. Thanks for the tip Russell.

Steve

Steve you have what I think is the best of blanks, because it will flex forward or back with no torque. A tip for your spiral. Put your rod back on the marble and bend it to about 90 degrees. Have some one hold it in that position or mount your shot glass where it will keep your rod bent then place your fingers on the blank about 1/2 way down the rod and turn it from one spine to the other. Most likely you will feel one side will snap and the other side will feel more round. If you spiral your guides to the side that feels round the rod will tend to balance with more of a snap on each side.

A couple of other points. The line should only touch the top or bottom of the guide in any fishing position. The line should form as small an angle as possible as it passes through the guides. Stress test the rod by flexing it to every position you will encounter while fishing. NEVER more than 90 degrees, as this will not put any pressure on the fish and will hairpin your rod,"Crack"

Take you time and build this one right and you will have your "go to rod".

Good Fishing.

Thanks for the tips Don. What you mentioned about the blank snapping to one spine and the other feeling kinda round is exactly what I found in the blank. Now I'm even more anxious to get this rod built after the info you gave me.

Thanks Don,
Steve

Every GUSA that I've built has had the double spine, 180 degrees apart with one being slightly stronger than the other. I believe that it's due to their manufacturing process, the double opposing helix. Not only does it give their blanks tremendous hoop strength, it also gives them perfect structure in terms of loading without torque in casting and lifting.