Rails

Solidly Mounted Blinds
The blind, also known as the skirt or apron, mounts vertically from the rail and covers the raw edge of the slate. Our blind is mounted using a “dado-styled” channel cut into the length of the rail. This allows the blind to align perfectly and creates a durable, furniture style joint.

We use the high-torque design of floating nut plates to secure the rails to the slate.

There are several ways in which rails can be fastened to the slate some are better than others. The quality of these fastening systems is extremely important to the play of your table. The rail should be mounted to the slate in such a way that a seamless bond is created. This allows for solid rebounds and vibration free play. The six most common ways of mounting rails are with the use of either lag bolts, threaded inserts, expansion bolts, tie plates, t-nuts, or floating nut plates.

Lag Bolts are course threaded bolts that are not designed for disassembly. After multiple assemblies the holes will begin to strip out and the bolt’s holding power will diminish.

Threaded Inserts
Threaded Inserts, at high torque, will begin to pull out of the rail.

Expansion Bolts are screwed into inserts positioned in the sub rail. As the bolt is tightened the insert expands. Wood will bend and mold to the insert. As a consequence, the expansion bolt can come loose and allow for unnecessary vibration and hollow, sluggish hits.

Tie Plates
Tie Plates are plates that are screwed to the sub rail with a threaded hole in the center. A bolt screws into the center of the plate to fasten the rail down. Tie plates can last a long time but still allow unnecessary vibration and hollow sluggish hits.

T-Nuts
T-Nuts are a common way to attach rails to slate. Prior to the laminating of the rail cap and sub rail, a hole is drilled in the base and a t-nut is inserted. T-nuts allow for very high torque. Consequently, a strong bond is created between the slate and rail. Unfortunately, if the t-nut is stripped or the teeth break there is no way to replace them.

Floating Nut Plates
Floating Nut Plates offer the best method of securing the rail to the slate. After the rail is laminated a wide slot is cut into the front of the rail. A threaded plate is inserted into the center of the slot.

The plate is then able to float in the slot and allows for infinite adjustment when aligning the rails to the table. The rail cushion covers the slot to hold the plate in place. The thickness and width of the plate allows the rail to be mounted with over three times the downward torque strength of t-nuts. This design provides a virtually vibration free rail when struck with a ball. With the use of floating nut plates, the play of the table is greatly improved allowing the cushions to react with quiet, consistently accurate play.We use the floating nut system with unique dome washers to attach the rails to the slate.

Rails
Our tables feature pre-finished, hand inlaid, genuine mother-of-pearl/abalone shell, double diamonded-shaped rail sites. Mother-of-pearl is a cultivated pearl material with a beautiful iridescent appearance. Abalone is a marine snail with a beautiful multicolor shell often used in making custom jewelry.

Sites
The sites are the markers on top of the rails and are used as reference points for aiming. The sites do not structurally impact the table; however, they do affect the overall furniture appeal of the table. Double diamond sites create a more expensive furniture look.

Sites are either placed in the rails before the wood is sanded and stained (pre-finished site) or after the finishing process is complete (post-finished site). Pre-finished sites require a more difficult and a more time consuming manufacturing process, but this method produces a fine-furniture look and feel. By running your finger over the site, you can determine which manufacturing process was used. A pre-finished site will feel so smooth you may not be able to tell where it is with your eyes closed. A post-finished site will have a very defined edge.”

1. Blind
2. Rail
3. Sub Rail
4. Relief Strip

High-torque floating nut plate
to secure the rails to the slate.

Genuine mother-of-pear and
abalone shell, double diamonded
shaped rail sites.