Fittings for Rope Handrails
We offer premium handrail fittings for ropes, manufactured to our own specification; these brackets are designed specifically for handrail use to provide both strong and elegant supports. Choose from English solid brass, marine grade stainless steel or locally produced wrought iron fittings in a selection of designs and finishes.
Wrought iron fitting with Antique Bronze finish.
Designed for Handrails
Rope handrail fittings are available for 24mm and 32mm ropes. They feature a solid one-piece post and a substantial stem thickness.
Our supports have a centre retaining screw to secure the rope, and four points of attachment to the wall at the base plate. A set of wall screws and rawl plugs is provided with each one.
All fittings can be used for outdoor applications, with certain considerations. See this faq for more information.
See notes on installation at the bottom of this page. For further information on measuring, and positioning, please read through our comprehensive guidelines on the measure page.
English Brass fitting for 32mm rope
Brass Handrail Fittings
Superior quality English brass fittings are UK cast to our own design, with a certified copper percentage content - giving them a classic rich golden hue.
Our solid brass brackets are supplied unlacquered and polished. Although lacquered brass fittings do not need polishing, the polyurethane finish does degrade over time (usually unevenly) and then becomes unsightly.
Unpolished, raw brass will age naturally and develop a unique patina with deep coppery tones. Alternatively, regular polishing will retain the shine.
Brass fittings - Dimensions
For 24mm & 32mm ropes
- Base plate diameter 62mm
- Wall to inside edge of rope 45mm
For 24mm ropes
- Overall projection 75mm
For 32mm ropes
- Overall projection 85mm
Prices
- For 24mm ropes: £22.00
- For 32mm ropes: £26.00
Stainless Steel Handrail Fittings
These high specification rope handrail fittings are manufactured from 316 marine grade stainless steel. They offer outstanding resistance to corrosion and are especially suited for outdoor use.
Stainless steel fittings feature the same one-piece construction and design as our solid brass brackets. They are available in a brushed satin or polished mirror chrome finish and come with a set of stainless steel wall fixing screws. In terms of machining and finish - as you can see here - they are absolutely immaculate.
Stainless satin fitting for 32mm rope
Stainless mirror fitting for 24mm rope
Stainless steel fittings - Dimensions
For 24mm & 32mm ropes
- Base plate diameter 62mm
- Wall to inside edge of rope 45mm
For 24mm ropes
- Overall projection 74mm
For 32mm ropes
- Overall projection 85mm
Prices
- For 24mm ropes: £22.00
- For 32mm ropes: £26.00
Short stemmed satin black fitting
Wrought Iron Handrail Fittings
Wrought iron fittings are made in Sheffield from mild steel and can be ordered in a range of shapes and designs. We offer three different heights for all our wrought iron brackets - full stem, short stem or stemless.
The short stem and stemless fittings can offer a good solution for narrow stairways and restricted space, especially where an eye splice is used in place of a manrope knot at the end of the rope. More information in our Knots: installation notes.
Our standard range of wrought iron fittings come in a satin black finish with a round base plate and a round-section stem.
We also offer special finishes, designs of base plate and stem design to order, plus the option of ordering a custom-built bracket to suit (see below for details).
Full stemmed Rope handrail fitting
Stemless handrail fitting
Iron standard fittings - Dimensions
For 24mm & 32mm ropes
Round base plate
- Base plate diameter 74mm
- Screw holes in a rectangle of 32 x 38mm
Wall to inside edge of rope
- Full stemmed: 54mm
- Short stemmed: 30mm
- Stemless: 9mm
For 24mm ropes
Overall projection
- Full stemmed: 82mm
- Short stemmed: 62mm
- Stemless: 40mm
For 32mm ropes
Overall projection
- Full stemmed: 92mm
- Short stemmed: 70mm
- Stemless: 50mm
Prices
- For 24mm ropes: £42.00
- For 32mm ropes: £44.00
Gunmetal finish handrail fitting
Special finishes
Special finishes for wrought iron handrail fittings include rustic finishes - brushed steel, hammered (aka distressed) and paint finishes such as gun metal, antique bronze, satin brass, matt black and satin white.
Gunmetal brackets feature a satin paint finish designed to look like aged steel. The use of a primer and two top coats produces a slightly smoother and less rustic look than a brushed steel finish.
The brushed steel finish involves wire brushing the raw steel as an extended clean up operation after welding, and then finishing with a satin lacquer. The effect is quite rustic and the lacquer brings out some of the heat imprints from the welding as shadows.
For a hammered or distressed finish, the steel is heated, beaten with a heavy hammer then painted and further distressed with wire brushes; this takes much of the paint off, leaving only some in the hammer dents. Finally the end result is lacquered.
Brushed steel fitting
Hammered handrail fitting
An antique bronze finish is shown at the top of the page and in the special base plate section below you will find an example of the satin brass finish on a small rectangular base fitting. We are happy to consult on custom finishes and provide images to match individual requirements.
Square base plate & twisted stem
Special base plates and stem design
You can choose square or rectangular base plates for any of the wrought iron fittings. For full stem length fittings, there is also the option of a square section twisted stem design.
It is worth noting that the square shaped base plate is designed to sit in a diamond position on the wall when the rope runs at forty-five degrees; this allows the rope to pass through the square without blocking access to the wall screw holes, and prevents a kink or wave from forming in the rope at each fitting position.
Rectangular base plate & custom angled ring,
satin brass finish
A rectangular base plate is shown in a satin brass finish with the bracket ring set for the rope to pass through at a specific angle. As a custom modification, the ring can be adjusted to suit the pitch of the stairs and is particularly useful for fittings installed on steep narrow staircases and where there are limited points of attachment.
Although usually supplied with two screw holes for securing to the wall, the design shown below was a custom order which required extra anchor points.
When combined with an eye splice end on a rope bannister, a small rectangular base plate can be a good solution for a restricted stair well; the bracket ring stays within the profile of the bracket ring and saves space.
Special base plates - Dimensions
For 24mm & 32mm ropes
- Square plate: 50 to 75mm
- Rectangular plate width : 30 to 35mm
- Rectangular plate length: 75 to 120mm
Special add-ons - Prices
For 24mm & 32mm ropes
- Paint finish - £7.00
- Rustic finish - £9.00
- Twisted stem - £5.00
- Square or rectangular base plate - £9.00
Complete price list on our order page
Custom made Fittings for Rope Handrails
We can produce wrought iron rope handrail fittings to a custom design by request. Please get in touch on the contact link below if you would like to discuss your requirements.
Examples of this type of work include: custom corner fittings, the moulding of base plates to fit curved walls, an angled ring to be welded onto a fitting for a particular rope drop - sometimes used with an eye splice ending - and an extra large base plate for a specific requirement (see the image at the bottom of the page which shows one of a set commissioned to cap wooden posts for a garden walkway). For resin fixing into solid stone walls, we can also provide custom length notched stems without base plates.
Custom corner base plate
Custom curved base plate
Fittings: installation notes
Rope bannister: rectangle base fittings & angled rings.
Image: D.C., Palm Desert, CA, USA
Retaining screws
Fittings should be fixed in position on the rope by means of retaining screws (or locking pins) to prevent slipping and chafing. The rope is locked into place at each bracket by a screw that goes through the rope and locates in a threaded hole in the bracket's stem.
Our handrails are usually supplied with fittings in place on the rope at your given measurements.
If you are unsure of exactly where the inner fitting/s will fit to the wall, these brackets can be left "floating" on the rope, and the retaining screws supplied separately, with instructions for fitting on site. The job is slightly unfamiliar but not difficult and would give the fitter a little more flexibility if, for example, the walls are uneven or there is studding behind to locate.
Solid brass fittings on black bannister rope
Centre fittings left "floating" for fitting on site.
Wall screws
Base plates on rope handrail fittings have four countersunk screw holes for securing to the wall (two on rectangular special base plates). Standard screws and rawlpugs are included.
Please note that whilst these screws are suitable for most situations, it is your responsibility to ensure that they are appropriate for yours.
- For brass fittings we provide yellow passivated steel screws, pozidrive heads, 4 x 40mm.
- For stainless steel fittings we provide stainless steel screws (A2), pozidrive heads, 4 x 40mm.
- For wrought iron fittings, we provide steel screws, pozidrive heads sprayed in matching finish 5 x 38mm.
Custom fitting with large rectangular base plate.
Contact Stair Ropes.com
For more advice or information about our bannister ropes and hand rails, you can contact James Watson directly. Full details on our contact page.
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