Proper care of your bar foot rail is important in maintaining its quality over time. Wear and tear can and likely will occur over time as they are used to support the feet of you and your guests. You can extend the life of your bar rail by following our installation and maintenance tips below to help take the best care of your investment.
Cleaning and Maintaining Brass Bar Foot Rail
- Before installing your Polished Brass rail, apply non-abrasive car wax for a long-lasting shine. Re-apply at least 3 times per year for best results.
- Polished Brass can be cleaned with a metal polishing product, such as Maas Metal Polish or Cape Cod Metal Polishing Cloths. Polishing products should not be used on brushed or satin metals.
- Polished Brass is the finish most susceptible to fingerprints, oxidation, and tarnish.
- Brushed Brass hides imperfections in the bar rail over time better than Polished Brass, and will not need to be wiped down as regularly.
- Brass finishes will patina over time. Patina is a naturally-occurring chemical process where oxidization occurs due to exposure to carbon dioxide and/or water.
Cleaning and Polishing Stainless Steel Bar Rail
- Polished and Brushed Stainless Steel can be treated with a simple warm water and vinegar mixture 2-3 times per year to best maintain the finish.
- Polished Stainless Steel can be cleaned with a metal polishing product, such as Maas Metal Polish or Cape Cod Metal Polishing Cloths. Polishing products should not be used on brushed or satin metals.
- For removal of rust or discoloration, coat the rail with a mix one cup of water and one tablespoon of baking soda and gently scrub off stains to avoid damaging the finish.
- Brushed Stainless Steel hides imperfections in the bar rail over time better than Polished Stainless Steel, and will not need to be wiped down as regularly.
Cleaning and Touching Up Powder Coated Bar Rails
- Clean powder-coated bar rail finishes with warm water, or a mild soap and warm water solution. Harsh chemicals and other cleaners can harm the finish.
- Touch-up paint can be used to repair minor scratches in powder-coated finishes that may occur over time under normal wear and tear. Thoroughly clean the surface and apply a thin coat of touch-up paint to cover the scratch.
- Gunmetal Grey and Sunset Copper are more scratch-resistant finishes than other powder-coated rails, such as Matte Black or Oil-Rubbed Bronze.
Cleaning and Maintaining Antique Brass Bar Rails
- Our Antique Brass bar rail is made from brushed stainless steel tubing with an electroplated finish applied. Cleaning and maintenance is similar to caring for powder coated bar rail.
- Clean electroplated bar rail finishes with warm water, or a mild soap and warm water solution. Harsh chemicals and other cleaners can harm the finish.
Protecting Industrial Black Pipe Bar Foot Rail
- Due to the nature of the material, Industrial Black Pipe bar rail is more corrosive and susceptible to rusting over time than other finishes. For some, the raw, industrial aesthetic is preferred, but there are steps you can take to minimize or prevent rusting.
- Prior to installation, apply a clear polyurethane or lacquer finish to prevent rusting. You may also apply a finishing wax which will need to be re-applied periodically.
- To clean, simply wipe the Black Pipe rail with a dry microfiber cloth.
Cleaning and Maintaining Nickel Bar Rail
- As with other polished finishes, Polished Nickel is more susceptible to fingerprints, oxidation, and tarnish than Brushed Nickel.
- For routine cleanings of Nickel finishes, use a combination of mild detergent and warm water. Clean with a simple combination of vinegar and water at least 2-3 times annually, or with larger stains, to maintain proper shine. Wipe the surface in a circular motion with polishing cloths to both clean and dry.
- While each finish can be cleaned in the same fashion, Brushed Nickel will not need to be cleaned as regularly as Polished Nickel.
Cleaning and Maintaining Copper Bar Rail
- Please note that this is in regard to actual copper bar rail, not to be confused with powder-coated Sunset Copper finish
- Over time, Copper-finished bar rail can take on a patina, or blue-green discoloration. While some find this aesthetically pleasing, others may want to keep the original shiny look.
- Copper bar rail can be cleaned, and patina removed, with a few easy-to-make solutions. A combination of one part salt, one part flour, one part vinegar, and enough water to turn the mixture into a pasty substance is used to remove patina. This can be rubbed into the finish and polished off with a cloth after a few minutes.
- The copper rail can be coated in either beeswax, carnauba wax, or linseed oil, followed by buffing the surface with a cleaning cloth, to prevent the buildup of patina.
- Another homemade mixture to maintain copper shine is equal parts lemon juice and baking soda. Wipe with a damp cloth after applying this combination to your bar rail.
Cleaning and Maintaining Aluminum Bar Rail
- Equal parts vinegar or lemon juice mixed with water can be used to wipe down aluminum bar rail. Clean afterward with a wet rag.
- Applying a coat of car wax can maintain the shine of aluminum bar rail, and also to protect aluminum from weather damage.
Outdoor Use
- ONLY Sunset Copper, Gunmetal Grey, and Matte Black powder coated bar rail & components are suited for outdoor use as-is.
- All other bar rail finishes must be treated with a clear coat prior to installation in order to protect against corrosion and damage in an outdoor application.*
*Please note that clear-coating will add 1-2 weeks to delivery time.
Wear and Tear
Given the nature of the product, typical wear and tear may be noticed with your bar rail over time, such as scuffs, scratches, and dirt. If you receive a bar rail from KegWorks with unusual wear and tear upon receipt, please call our Customer Care team (877.636.3673).
Expected Wear and Tear Over Time:
- dings
- scuffs
- minor scratches
- dirt and grime
Maintaining the Shine of Your Bar Rail
Whether your bar rail is scratched or just in need of some clean-up from all the feet they have supported over the years, polishing kits and touch-up paint will have it looking as good as new in no time.
Cleaning / Polishing Kits
- Maintain the shine of your metal foot rail with our reusable Cape Cod Metal Polishing Cloths.
- Safe to use with our polished stainless steel and polished brass finished bar rails only.
Touch Up Paint
- Get rid of those pesky scratches in your powder coated bar rail finish with our color-matched touch-up paint.
- We offer touch-up paint to match our oil-rubbed bronze, gunmetal grey, sunset copper, and matte black powder coat finishes. Thoroughly clean the surface and apply a thin layer of touch-up paint to cover the scratch.
Ryan Wilson
Ryan Wilson is the E-Commerce Manager for KegWorks and has been with the company since December 2014. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys IPAs and plays guitar in a metal band.
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