Do-It-Yourself Bar Rail Installation Instructions

Installing bar foot rails is a rather easy project. This guide will walk you through what you need make it happen.

Tools for Installation
Preparing for Installation
Installation
Special Circumstances


Tools for Installation
You'll Need:

Preparing for Installation
When installing bar foot rails, preparation is key. This will eliminate waste and/or mistakes.

We suggest you follow our detailed preparation instructions below.

• When you receive your rails, you will see that most of our tubing comes wrapped in a layer of plastic film to protect the metal finish. You should try to keep this covering in place as long as possible while you work on installing your rails. This will help protect your rails from any scratches or dings that could happen during installation.


• If you need to cut or lengthen the standard lengths or tubing, you will do this before assembling your system. To do this, first, measure and mark where you will need to cut your tubing. When determining tube cut lengths, keep in mind that the splicing joints should be hidden within a bracket. Make sure that you double-check all of your measurements before you cut. See How To Cut Tubing Instructions.


• Once your tubing is at the ideal length, Loosely assemble the foot rail by sliding the tubing through the brackets. Do not attach tubing to brackets with setscrews, nor brackets to wall, just yet.


• Mark where your brackets will go with a pencil on the wall or bar face. The bracket requires a solid backing at least 3/4-inch deep to hold screws in place.

Installation
Once you are comfortable with the placement of your brackets and rails, it’s time to attach them to your bar or wall.

• Begin by attaching the brackets securely to the wall with mounting screws along the first straight section of your bar.


• If a corner occurs, first securely attach the elbow to the installed foot rail. Then, attach the second loosely assembled foot rail section to the elbow.


• Once brackets are firmly installed, secure loose tubing to the brackets with setscrews.


• Then attach end caps, if you have purchased them, and secure finials and elbows. Some end caps require setscrews, however some simply attach into or over your tubing.


• Pilot holes may be necessary to attach setscrews. See How to Drill Holes instruction.


• When a wall flange is used, slide the flange onto the tube before securing the section of foot rail to the bar. A flange may replace a support bracket if mounted to a solid backing.

Special Circumstances
For any of the circumstances below we suggest that you wear safety goggles and gloves for protection. Cut edges of this metal are very sharp.

Cutting Tubing
Splicing
Drilling Holes
Wall Anchors


Cutting Tubing
Sometimes you may need to cut tubing to make it the perfect size for your bar. Our tubing comes in lengths from 2-feet to 8-feet. So, for example, if the front face of your bar is 9- feet you will need to buy an 8-foot piece of tubing and join it with a 2-feet piece of tubing. Then, you will need to cut the 2-feet piece and join both sections.

We suggest that when you are installing your rails, you always measure twice! This will ensure that your cut lengths are correct.

For Brass Tubing:
You can use either a hacksaw or a powered radial arm saw to cut brass tubing.

• It is very important that your cuts be square to the length of the tube.


• If you are using a hacksaw, use a miter box to be sure your cuts are straight.


• If you are using a powered radial saw arm, use a fine-toothed blade or an abrasive wheel.


• After cutting, file to smooth the edge.

For Stainless Steel Tubing:

• Stainless steel is a harder alloy than brass. So, use a powered radial arm saw with a carbon tip blade to cut Stainless Steel Tubing.


• It is very important that your cuts be square to the length of the tube.


• After cutting, file to smooth the edge.

Splicing
Sometimes you may need to join two pieces of tubing to make it the perfect length for your bar. Our tubing comes in lengths from 2-feet to 8-feet. So, for example, if the front face of your bar is 12- feet you will need to buy an 8-foot piece of tubing and join it with a 4-feet piece of tubing.

To join two pieces of tubing you will need to insert internal connectors called splices. Splices are typically metal and are inserted into the end of each tube. At KegWorks, the splices we sell are made of brass, as it is softer and easier to bend and insert into tubing.

• To insert a splice into a tube, compress the splice with a pair of channel lock pliers and push the splice into the tube. Then, do the same with the other end of the splice and insert it into the tube that you want to connect.


• You can then permanently hold the splice in place with setscrews.


• We highly recommend – for the best look – that the joints should be concealed inside a fitting.

Drilling Holes

• The setscrews packaged with our products are both self-drilling and self-tapping.


• The tip of the screw looks like a miniature drill bit and can be used with a power screwdriver.


• The self-tapping feature is for Brass tubing only. These screws will make their own hole in the tubing.


• Stainless steel tubing requires pre-drilling the holes for the setscrews.

Wall Anchors

• We highly recommend that you use wall studs for all load-bearing pieces of any installation, if this is not possible and a wall anchor is used, it is important that the correct size and type be used.


• We do not supply wall anchors. We suggest that you go to your local hardware store if you have questions about what types of wall anchors you should use, as wall anchors come in a variety of types and sizes.