Guide To Kegworks Brass Finishes

Brass brings more than just visual impact, it brings intention. With its timeless versatility, it’s long been a go-to material for interior designers looking to add richness and refinement to hospitality spaces, especially bar areas. That’s why Kegworks provides a range of brass and brass-appearing finishes across our architectural metal components, bar rail, drink rail, and bar shelving, and more, so you can execute your vision with confidence and consistency.

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Many clients ask us about the differences between the various brass finishes, and it’s a common question for good reason. To help clarify any confusion, let’s examine the design options available when adding the look of brass and the differences between them.

Polished Brass

The gleaming classic. Polished brass embodies timeless luxury and dramatic shine. It’s perfect for designs that command attention, from the gleam of a curved bar foot rail to the elegance of bistro-style shelving. Kegworks carries polished brass tubing and components for 1.5” and 2” OD bar rail and bistro-style brass pipe shelving, as well as matching service rail and purse hooks. 

This finish is the most challenging when it comes to upkeep, as it is the most susceptible to showing fingerprints, scuffs, and tarnish. We recommend applying a non-abrasive car wax for a shine that lasts and metal polishing cloths to keep it clean. 

Polished brass will patina over time, a naturally occurring chemical process where oxidation occurs due to carbon dioxide and/or water exposure. For designers who want the brilliance without the patina, we offer a clear-coated version by special order, preserving that signature glow over time.

Brushed Brass

For a more understated expression of elegance, brushed (or satin) brass offers subtle warmth and texture that designers love for blending classic tones into contemporary environments. You can bring this softer style into your space with 1.5” and 2” OD brushed brass tubing, complete with matching service rails and purse hooks to finish the look.

The brushed finish can help hide imperfections that may be more visible on polished brass tubing, but it will still need to be wiped down with a wet cloth to keep it clean. Like polished brass, this finish will also patina over time. We can add a clear coat finish at your request to prevent oxidation from occurring. 

Antique Brass

A finish with story and soul. Antique brass is beloved by designers who seek to capture a sense of history and authenticity in their work. With its smoky, aged character, this darker finish evokes nostalgia and adds depth to vintage-inspired spaces or designs that aim for a sense of history and permanence.

Electroplated onto stainless steel for added durability, this finish is stocked in 2” OD bar rail tubing, components, service rail, and coat hooks. Special order options are available for drink rail and other applications.

Our electroplated antique brass finish will remain consistent throughout the lifespan of your fixtures and will not patina further. It can be easily cleaned with warm, soapy water and a cloth or sponge. 

Misty Brass

Misty Brass is a powder-coated finish applied to stainless steel designed to mimic the soft, satin feel of brushed brass with added durability and consistency. It’s an ideal choice for clean, contemporary spaces that want a warm metallic touch, without the upkeep or unpredictability of patina.

This is currently a special order option for all of our architectural metal products, including bar rail and drink rail. The only required maintenance is periodic cleaning with a cloth and warm, soapy water. 

Electroplated Brushed Brass With Cerakote®

For high-performance spaces where design can’t be compromised. Our Electroplated Brass with Cerakote® is crafted for hospitality environments where metalwork faces daily wear and tear but still needs to look flawless.

This is fabricated from stainless steel with either a polished or brushed brass electroplated finish. A protective ceramic-based, thin-film coating of Cerakote® is then applied to help protect the metal's surface from moisture and wear and tear. 

This is an excellent option for anyone who wants a brass finish for their drink rail because the Cerakote® prevents moisture from damaging it over time. Plus, since this is constructed from stainless steel and not brass, you can use this finish for custom radius drink rail, as it can be bent and welded to meet your design needs. Electroplated brass with Cerakote® finish is available by special order and can take 6-8 weeks for delivery. 

Want more information on brass finish stainless steel? Feel free to contact us.

No matter which finish speaks to your vision, brass adds a layer of richness that elevates every space it touches. And with Kegworks, you’re not limited to just one element. We help you carry that finish across bar rail, drink rail, shelving, coat hooks, and service rail for a cohesive, curated look.

Designers, architects, and construction professionals are invited to reach out to our commercial sales team to request complimentary samples, get advice on finish matching, or schedule a free project takeoff. Let us help bring your next bar design to life, with every detail aligned.

Comments

On many of our plaques, nameplates and awards, you’ll be faced with a few options on which material best suits your needs. Three of our main materials used across many of our products are either Brass, Aluminium, or Stainless Steel. But what are the differences? 

Brass

Brass is an alloy created by combining copper and zinc. It’s often a top choice of metal for decorative objects such as plaques, plates and trophies because of its resemblance to gold. It is also highly malleable and durable, and this versatility makes it a top pick for many engineered components and instruments across all industries. The main downside to brass is its susceptibility to black tarnish from oxidisation of the metal, meaning that decorative pieces like nameplates and plaques often require a lot of polishing and upkeep to keep it sparkling.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a low carbon steel which contains chromium at 10% or more by weight. This chromium content makes the metal highly resistant to rust and corrosion. At Brunel Engraving we use 316 Marine grade stainless steel for our plaques, which also won't tarnish or rust when subjected to wet conditions. Stainless steel is also very strong and hard-wearing, maintaining shape and strength under high heats, although different types do have varying degrees of ductility depending on its nickel content. While more expensive than traditional carbon steel, these stainless properties make it a very popular choice for both practical and decorative metal pieces.

Aluminium

Aluminium is a lightweight metal which is soft and malleable. Due to its softness, it can be rolled into sheets and is often used for nameplates and commemorative plaques. Its also often used in aeroplane parts due to it being so lightweight. While Aluminium looks wonderful with its silvery-white appearance, the main attracting feature of aluminium is its great strength to weight ratio. While pound for pound it’s far weaker than steel, more aluminium can be used while remaining lighter and cheaper than steel. Anodised aluminium is also very corrosion resistant making it a favourable all-rounder.

Now that we have looked at the qualities of these three metals, how do they compare to one another?

Brass vs Stainless Steel

Brass is commonly known for being an traditional material that can tarnish when exposed to external elements, stainless steel is highly resistant to rust and corrosion even when exposed to wet conditions. Both metals are hard-wearing, but brass is known for being malleable and versatile while stainless steel is prized for its strength and resistance to high temperatures. We recommend using brass for highly decorative plaques and requires cleaning regularly with a polish to maintain its appearances, and stainless steel for signs which need to endure harsher conditions such as coastal environments.

Brass vs Aluminium

Brass is a long-lasting durable material, ideal for hard-wearing items in traditional settings and is often supplied in a polished finish. In comparison, aluminium is a much softer and more malleable metal with the advantage of being extremely lightweight. Unlike brass, which tarnishes, anodised aluminium is resistant to corrosion and will continue to look clean and bright for a long time. Both sheet aluminium and brass can be used for engraved nameplates, plaques and signs - but we recommend using brass for more decorative occasions. 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website bead blasted aluminum.

Stainless Steel vs Aluminium