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 handles come in matte black, bronze, brushed satin brass, dark brushed brass and nickel. Below, you will find what solid brass is, how to tell it from plated brass, how living and lacquered finishes differ, and how it wears. We then cover 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.
Solid brass or plated brass
Many handles that look like brass are not. Brass-plated zinc alloy handles often lose their plated finish quickly, sometimes within months, and solid brass is the longer-lasting option. Zinc alloy is die-cast, lighter than brass, and plated in many of the same finishes. 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 product page. The material line should say brass or solid brass, and the finish line says what is on it. Most handles on this page are solid brass. The Momo Handles Ara is brass, while the Zanda Marco and Manhattan handles have 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. Unlacquered brass is 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. Unlacquered brass and bronze change from exposure to air, moisture, skin oils and handling, and the areas touched tend to brighten while recessed areas darken. Once unlacquered brass has oxidised, the patina hides smudges from daily use and needs only occasional wiping.
Lacquer has a limit. Lacquer stays brighter but can tarnish unevenly where it is scratched, and 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 you chose 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. Antique brass, gunmetal and brushed nickel are electroplated over brass, and 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. Stainless steel is stronger and harder than brass and resists dents, bends and abrasion, while brass is softer and develops marks as it ages. Brass oxidises into a protective patina that deepens its colour and does not degrade it. Solid brass suits inland and urban areas if salt spray is not a concern. Within about five kilometres of the bay or ocean, salt corrodes standard metals, so choose 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. Brass suits warm palettes, wood and stone, and it looks at home beside timber doors and stone benchtops.
The ranges on this page, measured
Hole centres, also called 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 gives a superior grip. For the Momo range, see Momo Handles premium cabinet handles.
Where solid brass suits
Traditional brass handles often have textured surfaces or detailed metalwork and suit plain cabinets and raw timber, and brass suits warm palettes, wood and stone. Brushed brass is warm and elegant and pairs well with white or navy cabinetry, and 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.
These rules apply to the whole 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.
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. The general rule is horizontal handles on pull-out drawers and vertical handles on doors. Horizontal handles on doors give a streamlined look but may not open as naturally. Make sure handles do not hit each other when cabinets open.
Test before you drill. Put painter's tape where the handle will go to compare sizes, and check that fingers have room to grip and that the shape will not catch on clothing. Hold a handle against your cabinet and check the grip, and 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, clean gently with a soft cloth and mild soap and water, dry thoroughly, and do not use brass polish, which can strip the coating. If dark spots or tarnish appear under the lacquer, the handle needs refinishing and not cleaning. 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, 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. Confirm the piece is solid brass before polishing, since plated or coated hardware can be damaged. 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.
Harsh chemicals and abrasive cloths can damage the applied finish, so wipe handles down regularly, since they touch skin and hand oils.
Matching handles with doors and wardrobes
If you are matching solid brass handles to the rest of the home, brass door handles cover the doors, and wardrobe handles cover the robe doors. The Momo Handles range sits together at Momo Handles, and the Belgravia T knob also sits within T knob shaped cabinet handles.
Questions about solid brass handles
Do solid brass handles rust?
No. Brass has no iron in it, so it cannot rust. It can tarnish or darken, and a finish or lacquer slows that.
Are solid brass handles good in a bathroom?
Yes, in a bathroom with good ventilation. Wipe the handles dry after a steamy shower and keep abrasive cleaners away from the finish.
