rod building question

[KidWalleye]

do you goys think is that important to find the spine. I just built a musky rod, and I really enjoyed building it. I did find the spine on this one. I was wondering if I should do this for every rod I build. Also where is a good place to but the supplies. ex epoxy, drying motor, thread and rod components. Thanks, Kidwalleye

I went to the sportsman show and found only the high end rods had the spine consistantly lined up right.

[ameyers41]

Many people will argue whether or not there is a noticable difference. I've never built one without finding the spine. It's worth the extra couple minutes to do it in my opinion.

The Fly Angler/Thorne Bros. has a good selection. I get some stuff from there and bigger orders through a company called Hook and Hackle (do a search online) because they give a discount on online orders. Mudhole is another internet company you could go through. Cabelas has a good selection through their Tackle Craft catalog, but they don't carry anything in the Rogers store.

Just my two cents.

[markzeke]

[Note from admin: Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

[VMS]

Kid,

Assuming you built your rod on Saturday (as did I) did/are you going up to do the final gluing of your rod?

Fun class and fairly easy to do. I'm looking to do the same as you in building my own from now on. Just wish the thread was a little nicer or options of different colors...

Steve

[uffdapete]

The guides are not aligned correctly on the spine on many high end factory rods but should be on a custom rod. It takes so little time in the course of building a rod it's not worth it to skip that step.

[so haaad]

I agree with Pete. Part of the reason for building your own rod is to better the quality. Consider it takes days to build a rod. It only takes minute(s) to find and mark the spine.

[KidWalleye]

yeah I built mine on Saturday. The St.Croix guy at the show said it doesn't matter if you find the spine. He said st. croix doesn't. I am goind to build at least 2 more before opener. I just need to set up a drying station. I am not going up to glue mine. I live in Burnsville so it is a long drive up there to make twice.

[sparcebag]

[Note from admin: Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

[upnorth]

I find the spine of the rod on every rod I build, but I build on the straightest line so the guides will line up properly.

[sparcebag]

Up north your right find the spine! when your fishin and look at your work and see mislined eyes,you'll think,WHY DID"NT I!! when its too late.

[DinkADunk]

Spine doesn't matter. I will find the spine but it's more important to align along the straightest axis. Determining the proper guide spacing for the particular blank and reel combination overides anything to do with spine. Test cast before you wrap and get the loading proper. I've built a few rods on the St. Croix Premier M 6'6",2pc, spinning blank and although I may start out with the factory spacing test casting always results in a change. I also like using 25mm instead of 30mm guides (fits in rod lockers better) and doing that requires a change in spacing.

As for supplies, their are a bunch of good places (Mudhole, Angler's Workshop, Janns Netcraft, etc) but I'm buying more and more from Fishsticks 4 U. I also buy some stuff from Thorne Brothers and even Cabela's.

[scotty18]

I'm sorry to disagree, but the spine is important. It's what makes a custom rod. Anybody notice their factory built twist when figting a fish? That is the blank fighting to get back to it's spine.

The spine can also affect casting. The only type of rod that the spine play a smaller role is a spiral or roberts wrap rod. You would still need to find the spine for placing the real seat and 1st guide and tip top.

Alligning the guides is also important. I guess it's a personal preference. That's my 2 cents worth!

Thanks, Scotty

[DinkADunk]

Well Scotty a blank isn't fighting to get back to it's spine as the spine is not a physical thing - it is an effect caused by about 6 or 7 manufacturing anomolies and has nothing to do with the stiffest axis (or the thickest part) of the rod. Spine is a rod building myth that when tested failed. So spine if you must, it doesn't help and it doesn't hurt, it just doesn't do anything.

When a rod is loaded it will twist to put the load in the guides - on the bottom. If you build spinning rods and fly rods your fine. If you build casting rods and are concerned about torsional forces you might consider using a spiral wrap. Spining isn't the mark of a custom rod; balance, castability, weight, asthetics are. Just build on the straightest axis and you'll always be fine.