Solid Brass Cabinet Handles

Solid Brass Cabinet Handles Buying Guide

A solid brass handle is brass all the way through, not a thin brass coat over a lighter metal. That makes it heavy in the hand, and it makes the finish matter more than the metal. This page holds solid brass cabinet handles, also searched as solid brass handles, solid brass pull handles, solid brass kitchen handles and solid brass drawer handles, in bar pulls, knobs, T knobs and appliance pulls for kitchens, bathroom vanities, laundries and wardrobes. The listings come in matte black, bronze, brushed satin brass, dark brushed brass and nickel. The guide explains what solid brass is, how to tell it from plated brass, how living and lacquered finishes differ, and how it wears. It then covers what each range measures, how to size a handle and how to look after it. For the brushed brass colour, see brushed brass cabinet handles, and for handles in every material, start at cabinet handles.

What solid brass is

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. A handle supplier says bare brass darkens when it reacts with oxygen and moisture, and that makers add a protective finish to slow this, which does not stop it. The supplier says brass resists corrosion well on its own, and that a finish adds a second barrier, which helps in humid rooms and near cooking steam or cleaning sprays. A UK maker adds that brass has a high copper content that resists rust, and a second UK maker notes that brass contains no iron, so it does not rust. The same maker says brass performs best indoors or in moderate conditions.

Weight is the first thing people notice. The supplier says brass is heavier than zinc alloy or aluminium of the same size, and that weight is the difference you notice first. A UK maker describes solid brass as sturdy, and says it feels substantial without weighing down cabinetry. That is the case for solid brass in two sentences: it feels like a quality fitting and it is built to last, as long as the finish is chosen with care.

Solid brass or plated brass

Many handles that look like brass are not. A handle seller says brass-plated zinc alloy handles often lose their plated finish quickly, sometimes within months, and that solid brass is the longer-lasting option. A supplier describes zinc alloy as die-cast, lighter than brass, and plated in many of the same finishes. It says a deep scratch that breaks through the plating on zinc shows a dull grey that does not blend back in, while on a plated brass handle a deep scratch shows the yellow brass underneath. On a brushed brass handle that is solid brass under clear lacquer, a scratch shows more of the same brass, so it reads as wear and not as damage.

The way to tell is to read the listing. The material line should say brass or solid brass, and the finish line says what is on it. Most listings on this page give the material as solid brass. The Momo Handles Ara lists brass, and the Zanda Marco and Manhattan handles list a finish and no material line, so read those lines before you order and ask if a line is missing. A photograph is no guide, because plated and solid brass look the same on screen.

Living or lacquered

The finish decides how the handle ages. A UK maker describes unlacquered brass as a living finish that oxidises and develops a natural patina over time, while a clear lacquer coating protects the surface from air, so it keeps its colour longer. Plated or lacquered options exist for owners who prefer a constant look. A care guide says that unlacquered brass and bronze change from exposure to air, moisture, skin oils and handling, and that the areas touched tend to brighten while recessed areas darken. A handle seller says that once unlacquered brass has oxidised, the patina hides smudges from daily use and needs only occasional wiping.

Lacquer has a limit. A UK maker says lacquer stays brighter but can tarnish unevenly where it is scratched, and the handle supplier says the protective coating can eventually wear through where fingers touch most, so that spot will darken. The practical call is this. Choose living brass for a handle that changes, if you accept uneven ageing. Choose lacquered or plated brass for a handle that stays close to the colour in the listing for as long as possible, and expect a few worn spots on the most used handles in time.

The finishes on this page are coloured finishes on solid brass: matte black, bronze, brushed satin brass, dark brushed brass, dull brushed nickel and brushed nickel. The supplier says antique brass, gunmetal and brushed nickel are electroplated over brass, and that brushed brass is solid brass under clear lacquer. Match the finish to your other fittings with black cabinet handles, bronze cabinet handles and brushed nickel cabinet handles.

Solid brass or stainless steel

The two metals suit different jobs. A UK maker says stainless steel is stronger and harder than brass and resists dents, bends and abrasion, while brass is softer and more likely to show marks or scratches. It says brass oxidises into a protective patina that deepens its colour and does not degrade it. An Australian retailer says solid brass suits inland and urban areas if salt spray is not a concern, and says that within about five kilometres of the bay or ocean salt corrodes standard metals, so it recommends 316 marine grade stainless steel there. For the stainless range, see stainless steel cabinet handles.

The call is simple. Inland, or in a bathroom with good ventilation, solid brass is a sound choice. In a coastal house, or beside a pool or a salt-water spa, stainless is the better material, or a lacquered brass that you clean and dry regularly. According to the same maker, brass suits warm palettes, wood and stone, and it looks at home beside timber doors and stone benchtops.

The ranges on this page, measured

Every figure below comes from the product listing. Hole centres, which the listings call the fixing distance, are the gap between the two screw holes, overall length is the full length of the handle, and projection is how far the handle stands off the door.

• The Momo Handles Aspen is a solid brass pull with a stepped edge around a flat face. The 200mm pull sits on 160mm centres with a projection of 20mm, and the 320mm pull on 320mm centres with a projection of 30mm. The Aspen knob is 40mm across with a projection of 20mm, the same as the shorter pull.
• The Momo Handles Manhattan has linear detailing and a cylindrical form. The 200mm pull sits on 160mm centres with a projection of 25mm, and the 360mm pull on 320mm centres with a projection of 30mm. The Momo Handles Sussex is the matching knob.
• The Momo Handles Belgravia is a knurled bar pull, 241mm overall on 160mm centres or 404mm on 320mm centres, with a projection of 38mm. The Belgravia round knob is 35mm and the T knob is 82mm, both with a projection of 38mm.
• The Momo Handles Bellevue has a knurled bar pull, a knob, a backplate and an appliance pull on 416mm centres. The knurled bar pull is 200, 370 or 496mm overall on 160, 320 or 416mm centres. See appliance pull handles.
• The Momo Handles Ara is a bar pull with an oak finish, 224mm or 284mm overall on 160mm or 224mm centres, with a projection of 32mm.
• The Zanda Marco is a brushed nickel pull in four lengths: 157mm on 128mm centres, 193mm on 160mm, 225mm on 192mm and 356mm on 320mm, with a projection of 26mm. The Zanda Manhattan handle is 149, 210 or 306mm overall on 128, 192 or 288mm centres, and the matching knob is 30mm with a projection of 26mm. See Zanda cabinet handles.

Read these against each other. Projection runs from 20mm on the Aspen to 38mm on the Belgravia, so the Aspen suits a narrow walkway and the Belgravia gives a deeper grip. The Aspen and Manhattan share centres of 160 and 320mm, and the Zanda Marco covers 128 to 320mm, so one design can run from a vanity drawer to a pantry door. Knurling, which is a fine cut texture, appears on the Belgravia and Bellevue, and a UK maker of knurled handles says the texture gives a superior grip. For the Momo range, see Momo Handles premium cabinet handles.

Pairing pulls and knobs

Brass ranges are usually sold as a family, so a pull and a knob can match. The listing for the Momo Handles Sussex says the knob can be used on its own or paired with the Manhattan handle, for one look across a kitchen, bathroom or laundry. The Bellevue range includes a bar pull, a knob, a backplate and an appliance pull, and the Belgravia includes a bar pull, a round knob and a T knob. A hardware retailer advises using one or two handle styles consistently and planning hardware early in the project. A common split is a pull on drawers and large doors and a knob on small doors and upper cabinets, since a retailer says knobs are single-hole and suit drawers and upper cabinets, while pulls need two fixings and suit drawers, doors and high-use areas. Large drawers need long pulls for easier leverage, which is why the longer Aspen, Belgravia and Bellevue sizes exist.

Where solid brass suits

A retailer says traditional brass handles often have textured surfaces or detailed metalwork and suit plain cabinets and raw timber, and a maker says brass suits warm palettes, wood and stone. A hardware retailer says brushed brass is warm and elegant and pairs well with white or navy cabinetry, and that matte black is bold and modern and works best where tones contrast. For timber doors, see timber cabinet handles, and for period styling see antique style cabinet handles.

The same retailer gives the rules for the room. Use the same finish through the home, even if shapes and sizes vary, limit each room to two metal finishes, and either match handles to other fixtures, such as brass handles with brass tapware, or contrast them on purpose. A solid brass handle on a vanity with brass taps is a match, and a matte black brass handle on a white kitchen is a contrast. See bathroom vanities for the cabinets.

Choosing the size

Hole centres, and not overall length, describe handle length. A sizing guide says a pull is commonly about one third of the drawer or door width, as a guide and not a strict rule. A second retailer gives the same rule and says pot drawers and pantry doors take longer handles of 250mm or more, and smaller handles or knobs suit upper cabinets.

The sizing guide gives the steps. For drawers up to about 400mm wide, a knob, a short pull or a compact bar usually looks balanced, and for fronts of about 450 to 700mm, 128, 160 or 224mm centres are frequently right. For wider fronts, 256 or 320mm centres suit, or two pulls placed symmetrically. Knob diameter follows the same logic, with 25 to 38mm suiting standard doors and 40 to 50mm or more suiting pantry doors and deep drawer fronts. A typical starting point for placement is 40 to 60mm from the door edge to the centre of the fixing.

Read against this page, a 160mm centre pull from the Aspen, Manhattan or Belgravia suits a drawer front of 450 to 700mm, and the 320mm centre pulls suit a wider drawer or a pot drawer. The 35mm and 40mm knobs suit a standard door, and the 82mm Belgravia T knob suits a deep drawer front.

If you are replacing handles, measure the centres of the holes you have. The placement guide on this site says a 128mm handle will not fit 160mm holes without drilling new holes, which can leave marks on a painted or veneered front. A retailer says to match the existing centres unless you plan to fill the old holes. Many handles include screws for 16 to 18mm cabinet boards, so check your door thickness.

Where to put the handle

Centre the handle on a drawer front. On a base door, place it near the top corner on the side opposite the hinges, and on a wall door near the bottom corner. A long vertical pull on a pantry door sits at hand height and not at the exact middle. A retailer gives the general rule as horizontal handles on pull-out drawers and vertical handles on doors, and notes that horizontal handles on doors give a streamlined look but may not open as naturally. It also says to make sure handles do not hit each other when cabinets open.

Test before you drill. One retailer suggests putting painter's tape where the handle will go to compare sizes, and checking that fingers have room to grip and that the shape will not catch on clothing. Another says to hold a handle against your cabinet and check the grip, and to choose one that suits everyone who will use the kitchen, including larger hands or arthritic fingers. See also cabinet pull handles and cabinet knobs.

How to care for solid brass handles

The advice differs by finish. For a lacquered or coated handle, a care guide says to clean gently with a soft cloth and mild soap and water, to dry thoroughly, and not to use brass polish, which can strip the coating. It says that if dark spots or tarnish appear under the lacquer, the handle needs refinishing and not cleaning. A supplier adds that a dull finished handle is usually a film of hand oil and cooking residue and not changed metal, so clean it with warm water and a soft cloth and dry it properly.

For a living finish, the care guide says to dust with a soft cloth and wash gently with mild soap and water when needed. Polishing is optional, because brass polish removes the patina and brightens the metal, and the guide says to confirm the piece is solid brass before polishing, since plated or coated hardware can be damaged. A UK maker confirms that unlacquered polished brass can be polished so it looks new again, after which it starts to age again. Trying to keep the surface perfectly uniform can do more damage than letting it age.

A handle maker says harsh chemicals and abrasive cloths can damage the applied finish, and that handles should be wiped down regularly since they touch skin and hand oils.

A short checklist before you order

• Read the material and finish lines on the listing to confirm solid brass, and what is on it.
• Choose living brass if you want change, and lacquered or plated brass if you want the colour to hold.
• Choose stainless instead of brass for a house on the coast or a handle beside a pool.
• Measure the centres of your existing holes, and choose a handle about one third of the drawer width.
• Check the projection against the space in front of the handle.

For the full range of handle styles, return to cabinet handles.