Install Removable Rail Hardware

What you’re building in this step

A bolt-on system using T-nuts so the padded rail (and center playing field, as designed) can come off without tearing anything apart. That’s how you clean spills, move the table, and re-cover the rail later.

Why T-nuts

T-nuts let you thread bolts from below without a loose nut spinning on top. Countersink the T-nut on the foam side of the center piece so it sits flush, then drill matching through-holes in the baseboard.

Lay out positions evenly around the oval so the piece pulls down flat without rocking.

Seat each T-nut

The through-hole goes all the way through; the countersink is only deep enough for the T-nut flange and prongs. Press or tap the nut home so the prongs lock into the plywood. From the top it should sit flush; you’ll cover this area with padding and cloth later, so it doesn’t need to look finished—it needs to hold.

Thread a bolt in by hand after seating each nut to confirm it didn’t crush or tilt.

Drill and fasten carefully

Use a countersink bit and bolts/washers sized for your T-nuts. Washers on the underside spread the load so you don’t crush the plywood face. Mark all holes from consistent centerlines so left and right sides mirror each other.

Tip: Snug is enough. Over-tightening strips T-nuts in plywood quickly. If a nut spins, back out, add a drop of epoxy under the flange, and reset it.