Brassworks Frequently Asked Questions

Most bar foot rails are set with the center of the tube 7 to 9 inches above the finished floor and the face of the tube 3 to 5 inches out from the bar front. That range lets a seated guest rest a foot comfortably and keeps the rail clear of the toe kick. For a kitchen island with counter height seating, the lower end of that range usually feels better. See Brassworks USA brass foot rails.

Plan on one bracket within a few inches of each end of the run, plus one every 3 feet along the length, so a typical 12 foot bar rail takes five brackets. Anywhere the rail turns a corner or splices to another length, add a bracket close to the joint so the fitting is not carrying the load. Brassworks USA stocks brackets for every size in our brass foot rails.

Brassworks USA sells brass tube by the foot and cuts it to your exact measurement, so you are not forced to work around a fixed stock length. Send us the finished run length and we cut to it. Because cut to length pieces are made to your order, measure twice: custom cuts are not returnable once the order is processed. Order brass tube by the foot online.

Brassworks USA bends brass tube in house to the radius of a curved or serpentine bar, so you do not have to fake the curve with a series of elbows. Send a template, a radius dimension or a CAD file and we bend to it. This is the same bending capability we use for curved handrails and our custom parts and fabrication work.

Wrap a foot rail around a bar corner with a 90 degree elbow fitting, and treat each leg as its own run when you plan brackets. Measure each leg to the outside corner point, then subtract the take up of the elbow so the finished legs land where you want them. Put a bracket within about a foot of the corner on both sides so the elbow is supported. Brassworks USA brass fittings match the finish of the tube.

Join two straight lengths of foot rail tubing with an internal splicing sleeve that slides inside both tube ends and stays hidden. Slide the tubing through the brackets first, then splice, then set your end caps, and locate a bracket close to the splice so the joint is not spanning open air. Brassworks USA supplies brass fittings in the same finish as the tube so the seam disappears.

Most commercial bar foot rails use 2 inch outside diameter brass tube, which is the traditional look and the most durable underfoot. 1.5 inch is common on residential home bars and kitchen islands where a lighter profile suits the space. Brassworks USA stocks 1 inch, 1.5 inch and 2 inch tube, and components are matched to each diameter. See our brass foot rails.

A brass foot rail works well on a kitchen island with counter height or bar height seating, where it adds a place to rest a foot and reads as a design detail rather than a bar fixture. 1.5 inch tube in satin or unlacquered brass is the most requested combination for residential islands. Brassworks USA stocks everything you need in our brass foot rails line.

The gripping surface of a handrail must sit 34 to 38 inches above the walking surface, stair nosing or ramp, and that height has to stay consistent through the whole run. The ADA requires this band, and residential code under the IRC allows the same 34 to 38 inches. Measure from the nosing of the tread, not from the back of the step. See Brassworks USA hand rails and railing.

A handrail needs a minimum of 1.5 inches between its gripping surface and any adjacent wall, so a hand can wrap the rail without knuckle contact. Your bracket projection sets this clearance, not the rail, so check the bracket you are specifying, because some decorative brackets hold the rail tighter to the wall than code allows. Brassworks USA supplies wall brackets for its hand rails and railing.

A handrail is the graspable rail, set 34 to 38 inches above the walking surface, that people hold for balance, while a guard is the taller barrier, usually 42 inches in commercial work, that stops a fall from an open edge. They are separate requirements, and most commercial stairs need both, which is why a 42 inch guard alone does not make a stair ADA compliant. See Brassworks USA hand rails and railing.

Brass tubing is strong enough to use as a structural handrail when the wall thickness and bracket spacing are specified for the load. Architectural brass handrail has been used in hotels, casinos, churches and office buildings for a century. At Brassworks USA, the standard wall thickness for most applications is .050 inch, and other wall thicknesses are available depending on project requirements. See our brass tube and hand rails and railing.

Brassworks USA fabricates brass handrail systems in ADA compliant 1.5 inch and 2 inch diameters, with returns, extensions and wall brackets to suit the run. We can build to your drawings or design and engineer the assembly from your dimensions. Final compliance also depends on mounting height, clearance and extensions at installation, so we work from the approved drawing set. See our hand rails and railing.

Lacquered brass has a clear protective coating that locks in the finish as it was applied, while unlacquered, or living, brass is bare metal that oxidizes, darkening at the edges and staying bright where hands touch it. Lacquered is the low maintenance choice, and unlacquered is the choice when you want the rail to age. Brassworks USA applies both by hand, so see our finish types.

Brassworks USA hand applies polished brass, satin brass, and light, medium and dark antiqued brass, plus chrome, nickel and copper plating and stainless steel options. Because every finish is applied by hand rather than mass coated, we can tune the depth of an antique or match a target. Order a sample pack before committing to a full run, or see all finish types.

Brassworks USA offers finish sample packs so you can see the finishes in your own light before committing. This matters most with antiqued finishes, where the same finish name reads very differently under warm and cool lighting. If you are matching existing metal in the space, get a sample in hand first. Order the metal finishes sample pack online.

In most cases Brassworks USA can match the finish on brass you already have. Send us a sample piece or a clear photo with a reference next to it and we will work to match, which is one of the advantages of hand applied finishing over stock coated product. Custom matched finishes are made to order and are not returnable, so we confirm the match with you before we run the full order. See our finish types.

Clean lacquered brass with only warm water and a soft cloth, because polish and metal cleaner will cut through the lacquer and leave permanent cloudy patches. On unlacquered brass, a mild brass polish such as the Brassworks Metal Polish sold by Brassworks USA restores shine as often as you like, or you can leave it and let the patina build. Never use abrasive pads or acidic bar cleaners on either.

An old brass bar rail can usually be restored: tarnished or worn brass can be stripped, polished back to a mirror finish and relacquered, and damaged or missing components can be replaced with matching fittings. Brassworks USA has been hand polishing and refinishing brass since 1976 and stocks the tube, brackets, elbows and end caps to replace the pieces that are past saving. See our brass fittings.

Brass railing can be used outdoors, but it will not stay bright. Outside, lacquer breaks down under UV and salt air, and bare brass develops a brown to green patina. If you want an outdoor rail that stays consistent, stainless steel is the safer specification, and Brassworks USA stocks stainless tubing as well. If you want the rail to weather, unlacquered brass is a deliberate choice. See our brass tube.

Choose brass for warmth and a traditional bar look, and expect to either polish it or let it patina; choose stainless for a modern look and the lowest upkeep in a wet, high traffic commercial bar. Brassworks USA supplies both in the same component sizes, so the decision is about appearance and maintenance rather than availability. Start with our brass foot rails.

Brass is a copper and zinc alloy that polishes to a bright yellow gold, while bronze is copper and tin, reading darker and browner and patinating toward deep brown. Both are architectural metals used in the same applications, so the choice is almost always about the color you want in the space rather than performance. Brassworks USA makes its handrails in brass; see our hand rails and railing.

Brassworks USA stocks brass tube in 1 inch, 1.5 inch and 2 inch outside diameters, plus square tube, channel, flat bar, round bar and angle, and stainless steel tubing. Tube is sold by the foot and cut to your measurement. If the profile you need is not in stock, our fabrication shop can produce it. Browse our full brass tube category.

The standard brass tube wall thickness at Brassworks USA is .050 inch for most applications, and other wall thicknesses are available depending on project requirements. Wall thickness drives how the rail feels underfoot and how far it can span between brackets, so specifiers ask for this number first. For a specific diameter or load, contact us and we will confirm the right wall. See our brass tube.

You can buy brass tube by the foot directly from Brassworks USA, cut to your custom length, in 1 inch, 1.5 inch and 2 inch outside diameters and in polished, satin, antiqued, brushed nickel, chrome and copper finishes. Round brass tube runs from $19 and square tube from $20 depending on size, length and finish. Order online through our brass tube category or call us for cut to length runs.

Brassworks USA fabricates from your CAD files, dimensioned sketches or marked up elevations, and we also provide AutoCAD services if you need the drawing developed. Shop drawings show configuration, dimensions and mounting locations for approval before production, for an additional fee typically $200 to $500 depending on complexity. Commercial submittal documentation is available on request, so share your submittal requirements when you ask for a quote. See custom parts and fabrication.

Custom brass orders at Brassworks USA usually take 2 to 4 weeks on average, and we offer expedited services when your schedule is tighter. Lead time depends on the scope of the project, so contact sales with your drawings or dimensions and we will confirm the timeline for your order. See our custom parts and fabrication page for what we build.

Brassworks USA has no minimum order for custom work, so a one piece job is as welcome as a full railing system. Small designers and homeowners often assume a fabrication shop will not take a single piece, but there is no minimum value or quantity to meet. Send your dimensions, sketch or CAD file and ask for a quote through our custom parts and fabrication page.

Brassworks USA supplies residential and commercial projects across North America, including hotels, restaurants and bars, casinos, churches, office buildings and private homes. Product ranges from a single replacement fitting to full custom railing systems, kitchen hoods, pot racks, shelving, vanity stands, beds and privacy screens. Browse everything on our products page.

Brassworks USA supplies materials only and does not install. We fabricate and ship brass rails, tube, fittings and custom parts to your drawings, and your contractor or installer handles the work on site. If your installer needs dimensions and mounting locations in hand, ask about shop drawings through our custom parts and fabrication page.

Brassworks USA ships throughout the United States and Canada, and international shipping, including Mexico, can be quoted on request. Tubing up to about 94 inches can generally go by parcel carrier, while longer lengths such as 10 and 12 foot tube typically ship by LTL freight. Will call pickup is available at our Ferndale, Washington facility, and we can often quote shorter tube with internal splice fittings to cut freight cost. Contact us for a quote.

Brassworks USA ships brass tubing in protective wrapping, and the wrap should stay on until the rail is through the brackets and in final position. During installation, make sure bracket openings are clean and smooth, and slide the tube through the brackets before splicing sections. Most scratches in brass rails happen during installation, not in transit. See our brass tube.

Brassworks USA accepts returns of unused stock items in original condition and packaging within 30 days of purchase with a return authorization code, subject to a 30 percent restocking fee, and the customer pays return shipping. Custom products and custom finishes, including satin, antiqued and plated items, cannot be returned. Refunds are issued within five business days of inspection. Read our full returns policy.

Brassworks USA publishes a full product catalog covering fittings, tube and profiles, foot rails, handrails and railing, kitchen hoods and pot racks, shelving, vanity stands, and beds and privacy screens. Request it through the catalog link on our site and we will send it over, or browse every line on our products page.

Brassworks USA does not currently offer trade, designer or contractor pricing. Designers and contractors can still request a quote for custom and commercial projects by calling 1-888-533-2961 or 1-360-483-5979, or by emailing [email protected] with dimensions, quantities and finish. See our contact page.