OK, this may be a stupid question, but is there a natural spine on a cane rod, obviously other than the opposite side of a natural curve or un-removeable set? I'm getting ready to place guides and I'm just looking for advice on which facet to go with. Does it matter?

Sean

I think there is. But from what I have done on rewraps is to look for the natural curve and put it in the 'up' position so that under pressure the rod tends to straighten. Plus, if the rod tends to wrap any later on it usually happens in that plane. I'd rather have any bend either up or down than to the side in a cane rod.

I've just marked the spine on the top half of a new cane blank - very easy to find. I think you should take the spine into consideration just as with a carbon blank.

The bottom half however is giving me problems - I just cant find the spine ??
The bottom half is very stiff since this is an 8 weight rod and it is very hard to get a good bend on it - so I'll second the question - does the spine matter on a very stiff bottom half ?

Peter

Again, I think on bamboo you will want to locate the natural bend in that section and position it so that the weight of the guides or strain from the fish are working against it.

William,

maybe this is not usual but this bottom section is 99 % straight - how would you then position the guides ?

Thanks
Peter

Throw it up in the air, and whichever side is facing up when you catch it, you have your facet. (Just kidding) I don't know hardly a thing about bamboo, but it be logical that it would not matter on this butt section if it is so stiff you can't hardly put a flex on it (then a fish probably wouldn't either) and since it is straight.

I can get a bend on it - just not a good bend as with the top section - I guess I'll just try again.

Btw. I will be building a 4-piece T&T SC 7 weight this spring - is locating the spine on the rather short bottom sections difficult - they too must be kind of stiff ?

Merry chistmas
Peter

Position these short and stiff sections so that any natural concave bend is set so that the bend is down and the butt and tip are up. That's about all you can do and it will work out just fine. I have seen both Don Morton and Tom Kirkman say to do it this way.