Tape on inside of blank related to B/B??

[Out-Station]

Hi all. I just noticed from the inside of the butts on a couple of calstar blanks i have started to build on that they both jave a narrow bit of fibre looking whitish tape running up the inside of the blank. In both instances these are very close to the "inside" backbone i have marked out in these blanks. Is this coincidence or is this tape some type of joiner strip or such like and hence maybe related to the backbone?

Just interested to hear if anyone else has noticed this.

Stue, i read your thread re blank manufacture and thats what prompted me to post this.

Cheer's, Scott

[Stuart]

That white strip is the begining of the first flag when the blank is rolled. There is a begining and an end to the flag so there fore there is an overlap. This overlap creates a back bone. There can be up to 6-7 flags in a blank so you will get many overlaps and a few back bones. The most backbones I ever found in one blank was 5. Locate the backbone then build the rod opposite to it despite what you have heard or read. When you locate the spine you then should build or bind the guides opposite to it. Thats because the thickest part of the blank is on top "Tension" and just about all blanks will snap or fail on underneath "compression"of a blank. Thats because the thinnest part of the blank is underneath the blank if that makes sense. Some think the back bone isnt all that crucial but it does go a long way to increasing strenght in your rod. I did a demo at the latest RBW where I showed how a blanks spine is formed, where it is located when a rod is loaded and why you should build build your rod 180 degrees opposite to it. I know most, in fact all believe that your should build on the blanks spine but in reality the oppsoite is true. Just because thats the excepted veiw doesnt make it correct. Im know doing articals for a new glossy mag called Deisel N Dust and in the first artical I have writen is about back bones and how blanks are formed. There is also some good photos of blank rolling tables, cello tap machines and so on.

[Out-Station]

Stuart, thanks for the explanation. Just for clarrification you are saying that the rod should be built so that when it is loaded it should be at 180 degress or opposite the way the blank wants to load naturally?

Scott

[Stuart]

Thats spot on mate. Building the rod this way helps to resist breakage due to the thcker part of the blank being beneath the bend. Some dont agree with this but then they have never rolled a blank or know what and how a spine is formed. Some of the crap I read on rod building forums makes me shudder, some of which have the title of "Expert". I remembered after replying to the first post that the white marks could very well be a security measure as well. Due to the amount of copies on the market now, it helps to identify your own product. These markers can be a sticker placed in the first flag, a peice of string, a lenght of tape or what ever you want to stick in the first layer. I dont bother on the blanks I make only because they are so radical an I would know in a heart beat if I picked up a copy.