From: "JEFFERY BAREFOOT" <barefootj@xxxxxxx>
To: "Gordon Hill" <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Re: SPLINES (SPINES)
Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 20:29:42 -0400
Paul,What sage does is position the sections to make the rod look the straightest. It may have been Bill Dawson that told me that.Jeff----- Original Message -----From: Gordon HillTo: paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; flysoup@xxxxxxxxxx ; sobbobfish@xxxxxxx ; rtab@xxxxxxx ; CAPTPERMIT@xxxxxxx ; creangler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; dwright@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; daver@xxxxxxxxxx ; dennisg@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; captdoug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; dsprague01@xxxxxxxxxxx ; ephemera@xxxxxxx ; brushycreekfc@xxxxxxxxx ; keysjake@xxxxxxx ; barefootj@xxxxxxx ; bradyir@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; flyfishar@xxxxxxxxxxx ; ken.cole@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; captkirk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; glbaggett@xxxxxxxxx ; mkreider1@xxxxxxx ; martyt@xxxxxxxxxx ; niallogan@xxxxxxxxxx ; pminnick@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; bigfly@xxxxxxxxx ; whorwood@xxxxxxxxx ; flycasts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; sheila@xxxxxxxxxx ; scjacobs@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; tharper@xxxxxxxxxxx ; tomwhite@xxxxxxxxxxxxCc: mildbill@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; caddis@xxxxxxx ; Brydnlnims@xxxxxxxxxxx ; cezannealexander@xxxxxxxxxxx ; crazycharlie@xxxxxxx ; croberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; blacksalmon@xxxxxxxxxxx ; DermSox@xxxxxxx ; gladesflybum@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; hillshead@xxxxxxx ; iverson@xxxxxxxxx ; jfs523@xxxxxxxxxxx ; jerry_puckett2001@xxxxxxxxx ; kathleen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; thedamselfly@xxxxxxxxxxx ; plami@xxxxxxxxxxx ; ray@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; kerrrc@xxxxxxxxx ; simbirsw@xxxxxxx ; bobbeanblossom@xxxxxxx ; hillcathy@xxxxxxx ; donjack@xxxxxxxxxxx ; douglas.swift@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; erniemaynard@xxxxxxxxxxx ; flyfsfrank@xxxxxxx ; gregrahe@xxxxxxxxxxx ; ianmuirhead@xxxxxxx ; jeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; t.maltese@xxxxxxxxx ; skifishvail@xxxxxxxx ; jfv@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; trallag@xxxxxxx ; mollysemenik@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; fraudflies@xxxxxxx ; shane@xxxxxxxxx ; snowmonkey29@xxxxxxxSent: Monday, September 12, 2005 8:17 PMSubject: Re: Re: SPLINES (SPINES)Paul.....
Ahhhh....yes !
Gordy
From: "Paul Arden" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: "Paul Arden" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Gordon Hill" <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Re: SPLINES (SPINES)
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2005 07:57:36 +0100
Hi Gordy,
quick one on point 7, as far as I'm aware, you can only check the spine with no ringing,
ie blank only. I don't know who spines, but I do know that Sage don't.
Cheers,
Paul
----- Original Message ----- From: "Gordon Hill" <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
To: <flysoup@xxxxxxxxxx>; <sobbobfish@xxxxxxx>; <rtab@xxxxxxx>; <CAPTPERMIT@xxxxxxx>; <creangler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <dwright@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; <daver@xxxxxxxxxx>; <dennisg@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; <captdoug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <dsprague01@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <ephemera@xxxxxxx>; <brushycreekfc@xxxxxxxxx>; <keysjake@xxxxxxx>; <barefootj@xxxxxxx>; <bradyir@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <flyfishar@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <ken.cole@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <captkirk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <glbaggett@xxxxxxxxx>; <mkreider1@xxxxxxx>; <martyt@xxxxxxxxxx>; <niallogan@xxxxxxxxxx>; <pminnick@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <bigfly@xxxxxxxxx>; <whorwood@xxxxxxxxx>; <flycasts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <sheila@xxxxxxxxxx>; <scjacobs@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; <tharper@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <tomwhite@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <mildbill@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; <caddis@xxxxxxx>; <Brydnlnims@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <cezannealexander@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <crazycharlie@xxxxxxx>; <croberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <blacksalmon@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <DermSox@xxxxxxx>; <gladesflybum@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; <hillshead@xxxxxxx>; <iverson@xxxxxxxxx>; <jfs523@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <jerry_puckett2001@xxxxxxxxx>; <kathleen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <thedamselfly@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <plami@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <ray@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <kerrrc@xxxxxxxxx>; <simbirsw@xxxxxxx>; <bobbeanblossom@xxxxxxx>; <hillcathy@xxxxxxx>; <donjack@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <douglas.swift@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; <erniemaynard@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <flyfsfrank@xxxxxxx>; <gregrahe@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <ianmuirhead@xxxxxxx>; <jeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <t.maltese@xxxxxxxxx>; <skifishvail@xxxxxxxx>; <jfv@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; <trallag@xxxxxxx>; <mollysemenik@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <fraudflies@xxxxxxx>; <shane@xxxxxxxxx>; <snowmonkey29@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2005 6:38 PM
Subject: FW: Re: SPLINES (SPINES)
>
>
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>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: Walter Simbirski <simbirsw@xxxxxxx>
> To: Gordon Hill <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: SPLINES (SPINES)
> Date: Sun, 04 Sep 2005 03:03:56 -0600
>
>
> Gordy - Putting the stiffest side of the blank on the thumb side
>does provide the best accuracy when casting
> for all the reasons you mention. Also when playing a fish you want
>the stiff side on the away from the fish
> to reduce the tendency of the rod to twist. If the rod has a
>noticeable spine the tendency to twist can be significant
> leading to a death grip on the rod and increased fatigue.
> For most people (those who haven't had proper training and taken
>the time
> to practice) the rod will cast farther if the orientation is
>reversed for two reasons. The obvious one is that you can load extra
>energy into the rod on the forward cast (which is the usual casting
>direction). The other reason is that many people do not have
>symmetric forward and backward casts. Their back cast is
> weaker so they are not able to make use of extra stiffness and
>also when they do their final forward cast they tend to increase
>their forward casting arc.
> Walter
> PS - the quizzes are great! Keep em coming.
> ----- Original Message ----- From: Gordon Hill To:
>tomw1483@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; flysoup@xxxxxxxxxx ; sobbobfish@xxxxxxx ;
>rtab@xxxxxxx ; CAPTPERMIT@xxxxxxx ; creangler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ;
>dwright@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; daver@xxxxxxxxxx ; dennisg@xxxxxxxxxxxx ;
>captdoug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; dsprague01@xxxxxxxxxxx ;
>ephemera@xxxxxxx ; brushycreekfc@xxxxxxxxx ; keysjake@xxxxxxx ;
>barefootj@xxxxxxx ; bradyir@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; flyfishar@xxxxxxxxxxx ;
>ken.cole@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; captkirk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ;
>glbaggett@xxxxxxxxx ; mkreider1@xxxxxxx ; martyt@xxxxxxxxxx ;
>niallogan@xxxxxxxxxx ; pminnick@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; bigfly@xxxxxxxxx ;
>whorwood@xxxxxxxxx ; flycasts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; sheila@xxxxxxxxxx ;
>scjacobs@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; tharper@xxxxxxxxxxx ; tomwhite@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>Cc: mildbill@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; caddis@xxxxxxx ; Brydnlnims@xxxxxxxxxxx
>; cezannealexander@xxxxxxxxxxx ; crazycharlie@xxxxxxx ;
>croberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; blacksalmon@xxxxxxxxxxx ; DermSox@xxxxxxx
>; gladesflybum@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; hillshead@xxxxxxx ; iverson@xxxxxxxxx
>; jfs523@xxxxxxxxxxx ; jerry_puckett2001@xxxxxxxxx ;
>kathleen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; thedamselfly@xxxxxxxxxxx ;
>plami@xxxxxxxxxxx ; ray@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; kerrrc@xxxxxxxxx ;
>simbirsw@xxxxxxx ; bobbeanblossom@xxxxxxx ; hillcathy@xxxxxxx ;
>donjack@xxxxxxxxxxx ; douglas.swift@xxxxxxxxxxxx ;
>erniemaynard@xxxxxxxxxxx ; flyfsfrank@xxxxxxx ; gregrahe@xxxxxxxxxxx
>; ianmuirhead@xxxxxxx ; jeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; t.maltese@xxxxxxxxx
>; skifishvail@xxxxxxxx ; jfv@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; trallag@xxxxxxx ;
>mollysemenik@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ;
>fraudflies@xxxxxxx ; shane@xxxxxxxxx ; snowmonkey29@xxxxxxx Sent:
>Saturday, September 03, 2005 2:37 PM
> Subject: RE: SPLINES (SPINES)
>
>
> Tom....
>
> I'd have agreed on that in the past. The slight softening in
>the other direction is to be considered, also. I used to think,
>too, that this might help tracking.
>
> Theoretically, if the spline is oriented on the side of the
>caster's thumb OR directly on the opposite side....not off an some
>other angle, it ought to help tracking, whereas if it is say 90
>degrees off the casting rod plane, it then should provide a tendency
>for the rod to twist on either the pickup or the forward cast. I'd
>think THAT would lead to bad tracking of the rod tip. This is what
>Don Phillips called an, "eccentric spine". (p 67 of his book.) The
>articles I've read on the subject show no real agreement, however.
>
> Don feels that any "selective stiffening" (like with a
>significant spline anywhere on the blank) yields a blank which is
>basically unstable. In that case, he says, "...Unless the fly rod is
>restrained from twisting throughout its length, the rod will tend to
>flop over to its orientation of least resistance:..........." He
>goes on to say that with casting, this, ".....involves repetitive,
>reversing flexure, the rod tip oscillates from side to side during
>the forward and rearward casting strokes as the tip twists and
>untwists. This oscillation hurts both casting distance and
>accuracy, since the fly line unfailingly follows the rod tip
>motion."
>
> I suppose, this is the reason that modern rod makers have taken
>pains to minimize or eleminate ANY residual spline rather than
>taking the path of controlling its location as they did in the past
>when the technology hadn't developed to the point of virtually
>eliminating it.
>
> Don goes in to the many reasons for spline including blank void
>inclusions, pattern edge ridge, and overall rod warp due to curing
>with residual internal stresses, fiber-resin de-bonding, and
>asymmetrical masses of resin. Each represents manufacturing
>imperfection. He gives the distinct impression that any significant
>spline at all is the result of poor blank manufacture.
>
> For a lot more detail, including the theory of secondary
>splines, read his entire Chapter 7.
>
> Randy Swisher could probably give us the latest info from Sage
>on this subject. I'll ask him.
>
>
>Gordy
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: "Tom White" <tomw1483@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "'Gordon Hill'" <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
> Subject: RE: SPLINES (SPINES)
> Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2005 14:13:50 -0400
>
>
> Gordie;
>
> I have a question on # 3-a&b.
> If the "BOW" is up on a blank, and you place the guides on the
>bottom;
> You would have more "Power" on the pick up cast, and softer on
>the forward cast.
> Also better tracking on the forward cast.
>
> This is the way I see it. I might have mis-read this mail?
>
> Tom
>
>
>
>
>
> Capt. Tom White
> PO Box 500085
> Marathon, Fl. 33050
>
> 305-743-0055
>
> Cell: 305-304-8540
>
> tomwhite@xxxxxxxxxxxx www.tomwhite.com
>
>
> FFF Certified Casting Instructors Workshop (CCI)November 2005
> FFF MASTERS Workshop November 2005
>
> Ascension Bay Bonefish Club Salt Water Workshop, Dec. 2005
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gordon Hill [mailto:hillshead@xxxxxxx] Sent: Saturday,
>September 03, 2005 1:59 PM
> To: simbirsw@xxxxxxx; flysoup@xxxxxxxxxx; sobbobfish@xxxxxxx;
>rtab@xxxxxxx; CAPTPERMIT@xxxxxxx; creangler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx;
>dwright@xxxxxxxxxxxx; daver@xxxxxxxxxx; dennisg@xxxxxxxxxxxx;
>captdoug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; dsprague01@xxxxxxxxxxx;
>ephemera@xxxxxxx; brushycreekfc@xxxxxxxxx; keysjake@xxxxxxx;
>barefootj@xxxxxxx; bradyir@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; flyfishar@xxxxxxxxxxx;
>ken.cole@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; captkirk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx;
>glbaggett@xxxxxxxxx; mkreider1@xxxxxxx; martyt@xxxxxxxxxx;
>niallogan@xxxxxxxxxx; pminnick@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; bigfly@xxxxxxxxx;
>whorwood@xxxxxxxxx; flycasts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; sheila@xxxxxxxxxx;
>scjacobs@xxxxxxxxxxxx; tharper@xxxxxxxxxxx; tomwhite@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Cc: mildbill@xxxxxxxxxxxx; caddis@xxxxxxx;
>Brydnlnims@xxxxxxxxxxx; cezannealexander@xxxxxxxxxxx;
>crazycharlie@xxxxxxx; croberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx;
>blacksalmon@xxxxxxxxxxx; DermSox@xxxxxxx; gladesflybum@xxxxxxxxxxxx;
>hillshead@xxxxxxx; iverson@xxxxxxxxx; jfs523@xxxxxxxxxxx;
>jerry_puckett2001@xxxxxxxxx; kathleen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx;
>thedamselfly@xxxxxxxxxxx; plami@xxxxxxxxxxx;
>ray@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; kerrrc@xxxxxxxxx; bobbeanblossom@xxxxxxx;
>hillcathy@xxxxxxx; donjack@xxxxxxxxxxx; douglas.swift@xxxxxxxxxxxx;
>erniemaynard@xxxxxxxxxxx; flyfsfrank@xxxxxxx; gregrahe@xxxxxxxxxxx;
>ianmuirhead@xxxxxxx; jeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; t.maltese@xxxxxxxxx;
>skifishvail@xxxxxxxx; jfv@xxxxxxxxxxxx; trallag@xxxxxxx;
>mollysemenik@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx;
>fraudflies@xxxxxxx; shane@xxxxxxxxx; snowmonkey29@xxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: SPLINES (SPINES)
>
>
> Walter....
>
> This is by far the best set of answers I got !
>
> As far as I know, the only rods which were made without any
>spline, were the tubular metal rods, including the beryllium copper
>step-tapered fly rods of 1940.
>
> I consulted Jeffrey L. Haton's new book, "ROD CRAFTING, A FULL
>COLOR PICTORIAL AND WRITTEN HISTORY FROM 1843 - 1960", since he had
>many examples of greenheart and other composite wood fly
>rods.....but found no mention of splines.
>
>
>Gordy
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> From: Walter Simbirski <simbirsw@xxxxxxx>
> To: Gordon Hill <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: SPLINES (SPINES)
> Date: Fri, 02 Sep 2005 20:48:06 -0600
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: Gordon Hill
> To: flysoup@xxxxxxxxxx ; sobbobfish@xxxxxxx ; rtab@xxxxxxx
>; CAPTPERMIT@xxxxxxx ; creangler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ;
>dwright@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; daver@xxxxxxxxxx ; dennisg@xxxxxxxxxxxx ;
>captdoug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; dsprague01@xxxxxxxxxxx ;
>ephemera@xxxxxxx ; brushycreekfc@xxxxxxxxx ; keysjake@xxxxxxx ;
>barefootj@xxxxxxx ; bradyir@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; flyfishar@xxxxxxxxxxx ;
>ken.cole@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; captkirk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ;
>glbaggett@xxxxxxxxx ; mkreider1@xxxxxxx ; martyt@xxxxxxxxxx ;
>niallogan@xxxxxxxxxx ; pminnick@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; bigfly@xxxxxxxxx ;
>whorwood@xxxxxxxxx ; flycasts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; sheila@xxxxxxxxxx ;
>scjacobs@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; tharper@xxxxxxxxxxx ; tomwhite@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Cc: mildbill@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; caddis@xxxxxxx ;
>Brydnlnims@xxxxxxxxxxx ; cezannealexander@xxxxxxxxxxx ;
>crazycharlie@xxxxxxx ; croberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ;
>blacksalmon@xxxxxxxxxxx ; DermSox@xxxxxxx ;
>gladesflybum@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; hillshead@xxxxxxx ; iverson@xxxxxxxxx ;
>jfs523@xxxxxxxxxxx ; jerry_puckett2001@xxxxxxxxx ;
>kathleen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; thedamselfly@xxxxxxxxxxx ;
>plami@xxxxxxxxxxx ; ray@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; kerrrc@xxxxxxxxx ;
>simbirsw@xxxxxxx ; bobbeanblossom@xxxxxxx ; hillcathy@xxxxxxx ;
>donjack@xxxxxxxxxxx ; douglas.swift@xxxxxxxxxxxx ;
>erniemaynard@xxxxxxxxxxx ; flyfsfrank@xxxxxxx ; gregrahe@xxxxxxxxxxx
>; ianmuirhead@xxxxxxx ; jeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; t.maltese@xxxxxxxxx
>; skifishvail@xxxxxxxx ; jfv@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; trallag@xxxxxxx ;
>mollysemenik@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ;
>fraudflies@xxxxxxx ; shane@xxxxxxxxx ; snowmonkey29@xxxxxxx
> Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 3:32 PM
>
> Subject: SPLINES (SPINES)
>
>
> Hi, Group....
>
> Let's discuss the fly-rod SPLINE. (Some, such as Don
>Phillips, prefer to call it the SPINE.)
>
> 1.) What is it ?
>
> Due to manufacturing issues graphite blanks do not come with
>perfectly uniform walls. Grpahite comes in long
>
> thin strands which are packed around a scrim wrapped arbor.
>The whole is then wrapped with cellophane and
>
> then hardened chemically and with heat to create a rod
>blank. During the process the arbor/scrim combination
>
> will not be perfectly centered in the graphite blank. The
>result is that one side if the rod will be a bit stiffer than
> the other sides. This can be felt by bending the rod and
>then rolling it while it is bent.
>
>
> 2.) On which side of the blank do most rod manufactures
>place it as they make up a rod ?
>
> Most rod manufacturers actually look for the orientation in
>which the rod is straightest when sighted down
>
> the length of the rod. This makes it easier to align the
>guides when wrapping the rod. This is generally
>
> assumed to be the stiffest side of the rod but may not
>coincide with the spine as identifed in the
>
> previous answer.
>
>
> Another test for rod spine is to stand the blank section up
>perpendicular with one end resting on the floor.
> If you press straight down on the other end of the blank
>section it will consistently bend in one direction.
> This will tend to agree with the spine identified by
>straightness.
>
> Guides are usually lined up with the stiff side of the blank
>or opposite the stiff side. (Some rod builders will
>
> align the guides at 90 degrees to the stiff side of the
>blank but usually it is on or opposite the stiff side).
>
> Lining up the guides on the stiff side gives the fastest rod
>action but the rod may twist in some cases and a
>
> ffect casting accuracy or the action of the rod when playing
>a fish. Putting the guides on the opposite side
> will make the rod a bit slower but it tends to cast more
>accurately and doesn't roll or twist when playing a fish.
>
>
> With the tendency towards faster rods most rod manufacturers
>place the guides on the stiffest side of the
> blank as identified by blank straightness or the test
>described two paragraphs earlier (i.e. not the test
>
> described in question 1)
>
> 3.) What is its effect ?
>
> a. In picking up line for a back cast?
>
> Following the guides on the stiff side scenario this would
>make the rod slightly slower on the back
>
> cast. This would make the pick up less noisy on the water.
>
> b. In making a forward cast. ?
>
> Maximum stiffness in the direction of the forward cast would
>maximize energy transfer and distance. A lot
>
> of people like to turn the rod 90 degrees when casting to
>avoid line slap and/or for biomechanical reasons
>
> so the spine will not be providing them any benefit.
>
> 4.) Does placement of the spline (spine) have any effect
>on tracking ?
>
> Not of the rod hand but it can improve tracking of the rod
>tip.The amount of the effect depends on the difference
>
> between the spine and the rest of the rod.
>
> 5.) You have two graphite fly rods. Both are
>top-of-the-line rods made by a well reputed rod company. One was
>purchased 15 years ago.....you bought the other yesterday.
>
> Question: Is there likely to be any difference in the
>splines (spines) between these two rods ?
>
> Yep - improvements in manufacturing methods has reduced the
>erratics in the wall thickeness. This makes the spine
>
> less noticeable. Some manufacturers claim a Uniform Wall
>Thickness but from what I've seen a perfectly uniform wall
>
> every time is still not guaranteed.
>
> 6.) Do most bamboo rods have a defined spline ?
>
> Yes. Bamboo rods are typically made up of 6 triangular
>pieces resulting in a hexagonal cross section. While the rod
>builders
>
> do everything they can to have uniform stiffness in each of
>the 6 pieces there will be discrepancies introduced by growth
>
> rings etc.
>
>
> 7.) How do you find it ?
>
> I know of 4 methods. 3 I've already described. The 4th one I
>know of is to suspend the blank horizontally at the butt end.
>
> A small weight is attached to the tip end and then the blank
>is rotated. The spine is identified when minimal deflection is
>
> found in the blank.
>
> Two good references for this information, are Dale Clemens
>book on rod building, and Don Phillips, "The Technology of fly
>Rods".
>
>
>Gordy
>
>
>
>
>
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