Spine Align steel iron shafts

Could anyone please offer some advice for steel iron shafts? I am going to begin to build some forged cavity muscle backs soon and I will spine align the NB1 towards the target at 9:00 and S1 at 3:00 plane. My questions are: Is it really necesary to find FLO for irons? Any other alignment advice is welcome. Also is it necessary to drill an air escape hole through the center of the wood dowels if I want to install these in the tip of taper tip shafts? I have read from other posts in the forum that the dowels should be 1 1/2" long. Should they extend above the ferrules or be centered where the ferrule/ hosel meet? Thanks.

steel shafts have always been a touchy subject to spine and flo, just spine align as you have mentioned. if doweling the shafts you should drill a small hole thru to allow glue and air to escape so it doesnt push head off, 1 1/2'' dowel wont extend above ferrule

Thanks, I will give it try. I think I remember reading a post form Joe K that mentions to only spine the steel shafts. Gotta be better than random orientation. ---sdigit

FLO is king.

FLO as close to the N plane as possible and point this down the target line for the most consistent shaft - steel or graphite makes no difference, you still swing the club and it still loads and unloads in the swing...

-t

Yeah, why wouldn't you want a stell shaft FLOed?

Thanks, I think I will FLO. WhileI am going to build these irons, why not go all the way? Waiting for heads to arrive, and I am just trying to get as much info as possible. I think the whole spine/ FLO subject is one of the most interesting topics around. Of course any other info/ techniques are welcome. ---sdigit

Sdigit,

what equipment do you have to FLO? I am in the same boat as you, I am about to embark on my first clubbuilding exercise with irons and have been unsure as to the benefit for me of FLOing. Will you simply attach a laser pointer to the tip of the iron shaft whilst it is held in a clamp and flex the shaft and gauge the plane that the pointer indicates. I'd be interested to know your method.

Tommy

I will first find the N plane or residual bend with a spine finder. Then aim this mark toward the target at 9 o'clock for right hand golfer. Attach a 255 gram tip weight (simulates 5 iron head weight) and laser pointer to the tip. FlO should be very close to the N plane. Adjust for a horizontal flat line pattern 9-3 o'clock. I am not near as experienced as some from this forum, so I hope these guys will add to the explanation. ---sdigit

[quote name='sdigit' post='828294' date='Dec 17 2007, 10:29 PM']Also is it necessary to drill an air escape hole through the center of the wood dowels if I want to install these in the tip of taper tip shafts? I have read from other posts in the forum that the dowels should be 1 1/2" long. Should they extend above the ferrules or be centered where the ferrule/ hosel meet? Thanks.[/quote]

Why would you want to do that? For feel or swingweight reasons?

Curious, it is done for feel, mostly vibration dampening, although I think Prosoft isnerts are easier to install and work better.

[quote]Yeah, why wouldn't you want a stell shaft FLOed?[/quote]Too little variation in cpm between the NBP and Spine plane.


Do you believe that this is what happens to the clubhead during the golf swing?

[color="#8b0000"][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fOEnprofIM&eurl=http://www.clubmakerschoice.com/page1.html"][color="#8b0000"]video[/color] [/url][/color]

Here is a question for you guys....So I'm using my JB Spine finder on a set of rifles. I find the N position. I'm okay to that point. I understand that you want in at 9:00 or toward the target for consistent neautral playability. Where do I put the N if I want to have a fade bias or draw bias? and YES I know this against the USGA Rules....Thanks!!

N B P Would Be 11'Oclock For Fade Bias & 7 O'Clock For Draw Bias...