What height brass railing post should I choose?
Choose a brass railing post height that suits your shelf or cabinet and the items being held. Shorter posts offer a low profile; taller posts provide a higher rail for books, bottles, and larger display items. The heights shown above measure the entire post, with the horizontal rod passing through an opening near the top.
How do I plan my brass railing layout?
Choose your railing style based on post height, appearance, and mounting method. Then sketch where the railing will run, marking the post locations and any corners or wall attachments.
Where should I position the railing posts?
Space posts evenly along each run, adjusting their positions to align with features above or below the railing. Use end posts or compatible wall-mount posts where the railing finishes, and corner posts wherever it turns. See the spacing examples below to help plan your post quantities.
How many Railing Posts do I need?
The examples below use 12″ post spacing along a straight run. Spacing can be adjusted to suit your design using the custom-spacing calculation below. Two rods can meet inside a center post to extend the railing length.
24″ run: 2 end posts + 1 center post
36″ run: 2 end posts + 2 center posts
48″ run: 2 end posts + 3 center posts
60″ run: 2 end posts + 4 center posts
72″ run: 2 end posts + 5 center posts
84″ run: 2 end posts + 6 center posts
Need to customize your post spacing?
Calculate distance between Center Posts if spacing is different than the normal 12" or if railing length varies from standard lengths.
Divide railing length, by estimated distance between posts.
Subtract 1, this equals the number of center posts.
Add 2 end posts, wall posts or corner posts to finish
If total number of center-posts is a fraction, then distance between posts will need to be adjusted to equal an even number of posts.
How do I install Gallery, Modern, and Vintage Shelf Rail?
Brass Gallery Rail, Vintage Shelf Rail, Modern Brass Railing
1. Install Posts with machine screw:
Best and easiest attachment method for this style post is the machine screw. It inserts through hole from underneath mounting surface and screws into bottom of post. Nickel-colored machine screws included. Machine screw is slotted for both a flat-tipped or Philips screw driver.
- Drill hole through wood surface, insert screws from underneath of surface, through hole and thread into bottom of post.
- The gallery rail can be used on stone such as marble or granite provided holes are predrilled at post locations. Machine screws are inserted from under-side of stone, through hole and into base of post.
- If preferred: Brass Ball Head Screws or Brass Thumb Screws can be used, in place of standard machine screws, to attach posts. Use when screw head is visible. Sold separately.
2. Install Posts with: Cap and Nut (sold separately)
This installation method provides an old-time appearance, as it displays a Brass Nut on underside of shelf. Use Threaded stem with brass cap nut in place of standard machine screw attachment method. It is sold separately.
3. Install Posts with Adapter Screw:
Please consider these limitations before choosing this method:
- It cannot be used on stone surfaces.
- It cannot be combined with wall-mount posts.
- Installation is difficult
For an easier top-mounted installation, we recommend Cabinet Railing Posts instead.
Installation steps for adapter screw method:
- Screw all posts into the wood surface.
- Insert any rods that slide easily into place.
- The rod needs to be slightly shorter than the overall length of the railing. This allows it to slide through all but the last post with relative ease.
- Fitting rod into last post is tricky because posts are already attached to wood surface. Gently bend rod while slightly turning ball at top of last post to align rod with post hole. Slide rod into hole, then gently release. Rod should straighten, and ball should rotate back into position.
Install Brass Railings with Wood Screws
Cabinet Rail Posts, Retro Posts & Mid Century Posts, Low Tipping Rail and Short Brass Rail
This is a fairly simple method of attachment using wood screws. Wood screws are used to attach post to wood surface. Mount by threading wood screw down through countersunk holes in brass base into predrilled holes in wood.
To install Posts with wood screws:
- Mark location of screw-holes on wood surface.
- Drill pilot holes at marked locations. We suggest threading a steel screw into hole and then back it out. This helps thread the holes as brass screws are some what soft.
- Screw posts in place
