How Automatic Mah Jongg Tables and 36MM Tiles Actually Work

Automatic Mah Jongg tables are one of the fastest-growing pieces of equipment in the American Mah Jongg hobby, and they are also one of the most misunderstood. The Charleston Club, a Scottsdale, Arizona based Mah Jongg boutique, fields the same questions from players every week: how does an automatic table actually work, and why can I not use my old tiles on it? This is a plain-English explanation.

How the Technology Works

An automatic Mah Jongg table is a playing table with a motorized mechanism built into its center. At the end of a hand, players push their tiles into a central well. The table then shuffles the tiles and builds the next wall automatically, raising it up through the surface ready to play. What used to take several minutes of shuffling and stacking by hand happens in well under a minute, which is why the tables have become popular with groups that play weekly and with clubs that run several tables at once.

Why Tile Size Matters

The mechanism is also the reason the tables are particular about tiles. An automatic table sorts and stacks tiles magnetically, so the tiles must be a specific size and build to work with it.

"Players who buy an automatic table are always surprised by the same thing," said Dolores Parrish, owner of The Charleston Club. "The table arrives, they drop in the beautiful ivory set they have used for ten years, and nothing works. The old tiles are the wrong size for the machine. That is the moment they call us."

The key number is 36 millimeters. Most automatic Mah Jongg tables are built for 36MM tiles, a larger and more uniform tile than the 30MM and smaller tiles common in manual and travel sets. A 36MM tile is sized and weighted so the table can sort it, stack it, and raise it reliably. Tiles that are too small can jam the mechanism or fail to seat in the wall, and tiles without the correct internal properties will not sort at all.

Common Player Questions

That leads to the three questions players ask most.

• Will my current tiles work on an automatic table? Usually not. Standard manual sets use smaller tiles that the machine cannot handle. Players almost always need a dedicated 36MM set for the table.
• Do I still need racks and pushers? The table builds and presents the wall, so the pushers that come with a manual set are no longer needed. Many players still use slim racks to hold their own hand, and most automatic tables include a rack area at each seat.
• Can 36MM tiles also be used for manual play? Yes. A 36MM set works on a regular table for manual play as well, so a player who owns both an automatic table and a standard table only needs the one set.

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The Charleston Club's designer 36MM tile line was built for this moment. Each set is precision-sized for standard automatic tables and offered in a range of colorways, so a player who has to buy new tiles for the machine can also choose the color and finish she actually wants. The tiles work on the automatic table and on a standard table for manual games.

"Once players understand that upgrading the table means buying new tiles anyway, the decision gets easier," Parrish said. "They are going to buy a 36MM set regardless, so they may as well choose one they love looking at. That is the whole reason we built the designer line in the sizes the tables actually require."

The Charleston Club ships its designer 36MM tiles and complete accessories nationwide and to Canada. Players who are unsure whether a specific table takes 36MM tiles can contact the boutique before ordering to confirm fit.

About The Charleston Club: The Charleston Club is a Scottsdale, Arizona based Mah Jongg boutique specializing in complete American Mah Jongg sets, wooden and acrylic racks, mats, designer bags, accessories, and the annual National Mah Jongg League card. The company is owned by Dolores Parrish and is named for the Charleston pass, the opening tile-exchange sequence in every American Mah Jongg game. The Charleston Club ships curated, play-ready equipment across the United States and to Canada.

Contact Information:

The Charleston Club

Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
United States

Dolores Parrish
14804505822
https://thecharlestonclubaz.com