I've always felt T rail tables provided a better rebound than vertical bolt tables, plus T rail table dimensions are more consistent because they are determined by the slate size. Has anyone tested the rebound all other conditions being equal? There are only a few manufactures of T rail tables around so not many people have played much on them. Anyone care to comment on this. Thx
T Rail tables
- Thread starter larryt
- Start date
If t-rail bolts where the best way to mount the rails to a slate, the industry would never have changed. But, because of making the rails out of solid wood, the rails had a tendency to warp. And with only being able to bolt the rails flat to the side of the slates, you lost the ability to maintain a consistent cushion height from the playing surface. Then, most all of them rails were matched to the slate bolt holes, with little or no tolerances, the rails couldn't be exchanged very easy, as they had to be custom made to match the nut inserts mounted in the slates. Then, as if that wasn't bad enough, the distance between where you placed the staples holding the cloth to the rail blind was so short, you had very little room to work with installing the cloth. And, if one of the slate nuts ever got cross-threaded, it was a nightmare to repair or replace. Further more, the t-rail bold system did very little to dampen the sound effects of the balls banking into the rails, unlike say compared to a GC or a Diamond, or even a Gabriels. So, to sum up what I'm saying, in my opinion, the t-rail system of mounting rails was good in their time, but way inferior compared to how most rails are mounted on tables today.larryt said:
Glen
I agree
Well said.realkingcobra said:
I think manufactures, for the most part, gave up building T rail tables because it was cheaper to build the other way. No lead to pour, one clearance hole to drill for each bolt instead of one horizontal and one vertical. The bolts on T rail tables don't work loose like many vertical bolt tables do even if they are torqued properly and have lock washers. FYI rails on T rail tables are often done with 4 or 5 laminations which makes for a very stable rail. Cheaper is not neccessarily a bad thing as more of us can afford tables that way.
Larry I agree
Larry, I agree with your thoughts. I have also thought that another reason they quit making "T" rails was so they could use thinner slate. And as for the original question.. I feel the "t" rails do have a more solid feel. They are a little more challenging to recover, but that's what I get paid for.
larryt said:
Larry, I agree with your thoughts. I have also thought that another reason they quit making "T" rails was so they could use thinner slate. And as for the original question.. I feel the "t" rails do have a more solid feel. They are a little more challenging to recover, but that's what I get paid for.
Last edited:
Not sure exactly, my best guess is the early 40's. Anybody know for sure?
I did not know that vertical bolt rails loosened up, I never had problems with my Gold Crown rails loosening up. Its not just the fasteners that hold the rails in place but the other rails help to add rigidity to each other and the clamping force from the fastener holding the rail to the slate also provides friction which helps to secure everything.
