Just built (and used) my first SpineFinder

[LowPost42]

I just put together and tested out my very first spine finder... I gotta say, it was the coolest thing finding the spines on my shafts, watching them shift, then feeling the resistance as I tried to rotate through the spine.

Fantastic. Now it's time to pull the heads off my current irons, and spine 'em. I can't wait for the confidence that comes with knowing my clubs are assembled well... or at least similarily.

Sorry if this is a 'do nothing' post, I'm just a little pumped, as now my wedges are one step closer to being built!

[gord962]

Re: Just built (and used) my first SpineFinder

What materials did you use to build you spine finder? Any instructions on how you built it?

[LowPost42]

Re: Just built (and used) my first SpineFinder

It's a 'SpinyToad' bearing-type spinefinder - patent pending PhineasToad

It's made with a piece of PVC Pipe (compression join clamp), and 3 bearings.

I bought all my pieces from McMaster-Carr (www.McMaster.com) for $15.83 USD plus shipping.

It was dead simple to build (and even dead simpler to use) - unscrew the ends of the PVC and pull the gaskets. Put a big bearing in each end and screw the ends back on.

Assembly done.

My only 'complaint' is that the bearings didn't fit snugly into the the PVC pipe - they needed another 1/8" to sit flush in the hole (but then I'm concerned the bearings might have floated/rattled.

The other thing I need to figure out is how to stick it in my vise without cracking the PVC. I may trade up for a piece of brass, or build some sort of jig. As it stands, I do a fine job of spinefinding by hand - I hold the PVC down while deflecting the shaft by pulling on the small bearing.

I can drop the part list here, if you like.

[RobotDoctor]

Re: Just built (and used) my first SpineFinder

A smooth, flat and level table will be able to locate the spine of a shaft. Simply roll the shaft on the surface and let the shaft roll to a stop. The shaft's spine will settle to the bottom. Mark the top of the shaft and you will have marked 180 degrees from the actual shaft. I have used this method and then had the shaft tested and found that my shafts are very close to being accurately spined. Best part of this is that I spent nothing, and little time, on my spining machine.

[LowPost42]

Re: Just built (and used) my first SpineFinder

What do you do for graphite? /:s

[RobotDoctor]

Re: Just built (and used) my first SpineFinder

I do the same thing for graphite shafts as well. I roll my shafts 5 or 6 times and mark each time with a Sharpie Marker. I do this several times to verify that the spine of the shaft does settle at the bottom of the surface. Steel and graphite shafts will have a spine and this method appears to work.

When testing a golf club on a frequency analyzer machine, a golf club not spined correctly will start to oscillate in a random pattern, up-down-and around and around. A gold club that is correctly spined will only oscillate up and down.

Again, my method is a very close location of a spined shaft. It appears to work and my driver and 3 wood are so repeatable that it is almost unfair. However, for a true and accurate location of spining (puring) I concede that there are machines that do this a little more accurately than my smooth, flat and level tabletop method. However, the table top method is a little more affordable.

[LowPost42]

Re: Just built (and used) my first SpineFinder

I concur that the tabletop is certainly the cost effective way to go... but I don't mind being out $20 USD, either... and now I don't have to clear off my table!

[RobotDoctor]

Re: Just built (and used) my first SpineFinder

... and now I don't have to clear off my table!

Yea, that is always a problem for me.