Is there a minimum number of rail bolts necessary for a correct rail installation? I heard from a sales person that three has always been the standard and all that is needed. Is more better and how many are too much? Does the number of bolts have any relevance at all?
On a more serious note, the weakest point on 3 bolt rails is between the pockets and the first bolt closest to the pocket. I've seen plenty of rails that were bowed up on both ends even when the rail bolts are all tightened down. So, by adding a 4th bolt, thereby spreading out the rail bolts closer to the pocket ends of the rails, you have a much better chance of bolting down the rails completely and evenly. On my King Cobra 9ft coin-op tables I built, I used 7 bolts per rail, but I used grade 7, 1/4" bolts. They're not as thick as the 3/8ths bolts more commonly used on pool tables today, but I looked at it this way. 3 bolts at 3/8ths of an inch thick equals 1 1/8th inches of holding power in three points on the rail. I used 7 bolts at a 1/4" each, that totaled 1 3/4" inches of steel in seven equal points holding the rails down. When banking balls into the rails on my tables, you could see and hear the balls bank, but you couldn't feel them bank against the rails if you placed your hand on the rail where the ball was being banked into. The Diamond tables are pretty much the same way with the solid Oak rails and 4 bolts per rail.
Glen
