Sometimes in life you make the perfect decisions and this was one of those times. I bought an old Brunswick Anniversary a couple of years ago and it came with the big pocket openings and the formica rails. I commissioned Mark Gregory to make new rails out of walnut with 4.5" corner pockets. We moved into our new house 6 months ago and excited to have my table set up, I called on a local mechanic that does 7' bar tables. I just assumed he would be the best around but was I ever wrong.
I was ignorant and didn't know what to look for. After a million staples and incorrect stretching of the Simonis 8650HR, I finally had a table to play on. Because he knew nothing about how to stretch the cloth, the table played super short and slow (NOW I know this). A few months ago I posted about this condition and in my ignorance mentioned my woes in an AZB post. Everybody jumped on that maybe the cause was the Mark Gregory's rails and I didn't know enough at the time to refute that but I do now.
RKC set up the table by bringing a trade out Anniversary frame and trade out Italian slate and both had his phenomenal 42 point leveling system . By agreeing to swap out the frames and slates, we saved days of his time by allowing him to use his tools and jigs at home in his shop rather than do it in my driveway in his truck. Anyway, he put on new Simonis 860 HR in blue tournament and the table in now super fast (just right for 8,9,10 ball) and the rails are perfect in every respect. I can NOT give a HIGHER recommendation for these two guys! They are both one of a kind and the premier craftsmen in their fields. If you are considering new rails for your table, just get the best while you are at it and call Mark. If you are luckily enough to get RKC to set up your table, you have the best of all worlds and possibly the best playing table for many a mile. Be careful letting the local yokel table mechanic anywhere near your baby! I had to learn the hard way, now you don't have to.
I was ignorant and didn't know what to look for. After a million staples and incorrect stretching of the Simonis 8650HR, I finally had a table to play on. Because he knew nothing about how to stretch the cloth, the table played super short and slow (NOW I know this). A few months ago I posted about this condition and in my ignorance mentioned my woes in an AZB post. Everybody jumped on that maybe the cause was the Mark Gregory's rails and I didn't know enough at the time to refute that but I do now.
RKC set up the table by bringing a trade out Anniversary frame and trade out Italian slate and both had his phenomenal 42 point leveling system . By agreeing to swap out the frames and slates, we saved days of his time by allowing him to use his tools and jigs at home in his shop rather than do it in my driveway in his truck. Anyway, he put on new Simonis 860 HR in blue tournament and the table in now super fast (just right for 8,9,10 ball) and the rails are perfect in every respect. I can NOT give a HIGHER recommendation for these two guys! They are both one of a kind and the premier craftsmen in their fields. If you are considering new rails for your table, just get the best while you are at it and call Mark. If you are luckily enough to get RKC to set up your table, you have the best of all worlds and possibly the best playing table for many a mile. Be careful letting the local yokel table mechanic anywhere near your baby! I had to learn the hard way, now you don't have to.
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