Are you ready for a Rejuvenation brass gallery rail dupe? Have you already seen the gallery rails that others source from Vintage Hardware? I have another source for even more inexpensive unlacquered brass rails. If you read my pantry cafe rod tutorial you might know exactly where I am heading with this.
Where do I Buy Brass Rail?
When I created the pantry cafe rod I introduced you to using unfinished brass lamp parts to build it. Unfinished is another word for unlacquered. Turns out if you’re fancy you’ll call it unlacquered. If you are a lighting part store you call it unfinished.
The best source I have found for all of my lighting parts is Grand Brass Lamp Parts. Their brass pipes are the perfect dupe for brass rails. In fact all of their tubes are dupes for rails. You don’t have to want unlacquered brass rails or rods to use light parts to make these gallery shelf railings. They have every metal finish available.
At this time Grand Brass Lamp Parts doesn't have a referral code program so I can't offer any discounts for their products and I do not make a commission from their sales. However, I cannot leave you out of the loop on how easy it is to use lighting parts for all things brass. Their only catch is shipping can be a little high (mine on average is $15-20), try and group your entire order together. Also, anything over 3 feet costs more to ship. Even with their shipping costs, they still come in cheaper than anything else I have found.
Some of the links I share are affiliate links, and if you purchase through them it won’t cost you any extra, however, I may be paid a small commission. That small support helps me keep the lights on and we appreciate all of it.
Supplies for making the Brass Gallery Rail
- Sandpaper 60 grit
- 5/16″ wood dowels
- Wood glue
- Shelf or wood you’d like to attach the brass gallery rail to
- Two armbacks per shelf
- Two bull necks per shelf
- 1 – 1/8 ips 3/8″ male threaded unfinished brass pipe per shelf
Tools for making the Brass Gallery Rail
- Mallet
- Sander
- Drill
- 3/8″ drill bit (preferably a brad point for accuracy)
- Measuring tape
- Speed Square
- Pencil for marking
How I make the brass gallery rail for my spice shelf
My spice rack shelves gallery rails are made up of three parts: two “armbacks“, two small “bull necks” (but you could also use these for just 15 cents more), and one 1/8 ips 12″ male threaded brass pipe.
The brass pipe threads are only 3/8″ long so they don’t show when the parts are all screwed together.
Assemble your brass gallery rail from your lighting parts
Screw your threaded arm backs into the tops of the bull necks. Then, take two of your assembled ends and join them together with your brass pipe. My brass pipe was 12″ long. If yours are longer I suggest not spanning longer than 20″ without adding a T.
Add wood dowels to the brass gallery rail
Once the rail was assembled, I tapped 5/16″ wood dowels into the female thread of the bull necks. Using a sander, I sanded the exposed dowel down to 5/8″ long. You could cut them with a saw but I felt that I had more control sanding them down and it went really quickly with 60 grit sandpaper on my sander.
Drill holes in the shelf for the wood dowels
I drilled holes into the shelf 1/2″ from the front of the shelves to the center of the hole with a 3/8″ drill bit. To mark the holes I used a pencil and a speed square two make quick measurements.
I have a drill press, so drilling the holes for the wood dowels at the same depth was pretty easy.
However, I realize not everyone has a drill press. You can make sure to go only 5/8″ deep into your 3/4″ shelf by measuring from the tip of the drill bit back and placing a piece of painters tape at the 5/8″ mark. When your tape hits the shelf, stop drilling.
If you don’t already own the bit, make sure you buy the brad point bit. It will be a lot easier to center your drill bit on your mark with a brad point bit.
If you are making more than one shelf, you may want to consider making a template from 1/4" wood. Simply cut piece of 1/4" wood to the same size as your shelf, mark and drill 3/8" holes in the same spot as you would on the shelves. But instead of stopping, go all the way through the 1/4". Adjust your tape on the drill to account for the thickness of the 1/4". Place your template on every shelf making sure to align all the edges and drill each hole in the perfect spot every time.
Attach brass gallery rail to shelf
Then I placed a drop of wood glue into the dowel holes and tapped the brass gallery rail into the shelf.
Because my shelves were going in to a built in spice rack, I knew it would be very difficult to drill the holes for the dowels after I assembled the spice rack. Instead, first I assembled all of the brass gallery rails. Then I attached the gallery rails to the shelves. Last, I attached the shelves to the spice rack.
FAQ’s for the brass gallery rail dupe
I need a longer rail with more sections. How can I connect more than one rail to another?
Let’s say you need to connect multiple rails together you could use this arm back. It has three holes – top and either side.
How can I return my rails back to the back of my shelf?
I am still looking for an armback that has the two correct side holes. However, brass is easy to drill a hole in to and if you are up to experiment, use the 90 degree ball armback from the tutorial. Clamp it to a solid surface and drill the right sized hole. You don’t need to thread it, the pipe will thread in to the cut hole.
Is there a way to make the gallery rail taller?
You’d like a slightly taller rail. Use this brass neck to connect your arm backs to the rails.
The brass is too plain, is there something more extravagant/extra?
You’d like something a little more wow factor, check out this reeded pipe.
They don’t have the size gallery railings I need…
If you can’t find the exact size you need, you can buy regular brass pipe. Cut the brass pipe to the lengths you need. Then thread it yourself using this die handle wrench and this pipe die.
Did you find this helpful?
If you did, leave me a comment or send me an email if you are going to try this out. I love to hear from you and see all of your projects!
Join me on Instagram @jhambel.hambelsgetreal where I share projects like this all the time!
If you enjoyed this tutorial, check out this one from the pantry Or this popular post about how I added an appliance panel to my standard dishwasher.
Disclaimer: Working with power tools and DIY projects can be dangerous and post inherent risks. While we work hard to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of the tutorials along with the information displayed on this website, Hambels Get Real cannot be held responsible for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create.
so helpful! will definitely be trying this out. Thank you so much!
If you do, send me pictures!
The piece you suggest if I want to return to the wall, I’m not understanding how the 90 degree turn of the rail is going to happen on the corner with the link to the piece you listed, maybe I’m missing something ?
No, you aren’t missing anything, that is definitely not going to work. If I find the right arm back I will let you know. I’m going to update the post!
Is there a way to have corner posts and sides ?
If you feel comfortable trying you can drill a hole into one of the regular posts for the return pipe-it’s definitely worth trying but I haven’t found a post with the right default drill
This was so easy to do. I had solid brass rods left over from a chandelier install and this worked great for my secret bookcase door!!! ❤️
I would add a picture but there’s no way to attach…
It’s almost crazy how expensive these rails cost at home decor stores when they are pretty much light parts. I would love to see a picture! If you get the chance send one to me at jhambel@hambelsgetreal.com
Hi Marie, THANK YOU for this post! I just placed my order and I am so excited to be trying out this DIY! I had to order longer pipes and a middle connector for my four-foot shelves so I strayed from the original design. Fingers-crossed this works out!
I know a few people who have had to do this and it’s worked well for them! Good luck and send me pictures when you’re done (btw my name is Joannie 🤗)
Hi! Great idea! I want to try and attach this rail to the top of a banquette – is there any way to screw down the bull necks with another part?
Thank you! You could buy a machined screw that matches the threads on the bull neck and then screw that into a steel prong nut tapped into the banquet.
Thank you so much for this. I added this brass rail to a plate rack I made. It came out great! I emailed you a photo. Thanks again for sharing!
Of course!!! I’m so happy you tried it!!!
Hello Joannie, this is such a clever idea! Thanks so much for sharing this because it has sparked so many other ideas in my mind! I love this!
That’s so great to hear!
Thanks for sharing this idea. I was looking to add a brass rail to the top of a board and batten shelf. It’s the length of my living room wall, appx. 120 inches. I’ll have to figure out the length of rail and the attachments. But I’m sure it will be cheaper than the “authentic” brass rail. thanks again.
That’s great to hear!
I am SOOOOOO grateful for you sharing this, i just ordered mine and i’m beyond excited !
I’m so happy to help!
Thank you so much for sharing this super helpful info! I’m hoping to attach it directly to my wall instead of onto a wood shelf, so you have any recommendations as far as parts I could attach to the base of the bull neck that would allow me to attach it to the wall?
Check out dowel screws! Let me know how it goes!!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING!! Lamp parts have never been on my radar and the savings are just incredible. I can’t wait to create mine. Your post is much appreciated 🙂
Oh I’m so happy to hear this and o really hope you send me pictures when you do!
How long is each rail once you assembled yours? I have a 24” shelf and planned to do one T in the center of each. I’m thinking 2 12” sections will be too long?
My rails are 12 5/8” so the two end posts added 5/8” overall.
So glad i found your blog! I know there has to be a cheaper way making a gallery rail. Question, I am planning to screw the bullneck, can you suggest what I could use instead of the wood dowels? I need it secured as we’re putting heavier items to lean on the railing.
I’m so happy you did too! You could buy a machined screw that matches the threads on the bull neck and then screw that into a steel prong nut. You’d find both of those items in the fastener aisle at Lowe’s or Home Depot-you know the aisle with all the drawers! Another option would be to order the threaded rod version of the rail instead of the wood dowels. You can cut the rod to size and “screw” it into the base. They have threaded rod on the lamp parts website too-it’s a connector. Hope that helps and let me know if you go that route, I’d love to see it!
Wowww. They look so beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing 💗
Thank you so much for commenting! The support means so much to us ❤️
Just spent the last 4 hours online searching/shopping for brass rails for the shelves I’m making to hold/display all my cutting boards when I stumbled upon your blog. It was such a pleasant surprise to see that I could purchase these items for a mere fraction of what Rejuvenation, Williams Sonoma, and others charge. Thank you for sharing the links for the lamp parts!! One quick question – I noticed that the brass components are “unfinished” brass but your rails looks so nice and polished. Can you please share how you polished your brass? Thanks so much!
Unfinished is unlaquered brass (it’s all marketing so basically those sites you mentioned charge more by calling unfinished brass unlaquered). If you want it to naturally patina get the unfinished brass like mine-I didn’t do anything special to it except put it all together. If you want a polished brass finish that never changes the lamp part site sells polished versions too. Hope that helps!
Thank you for this! Wondering how deep your shelf is (shown in the photos here on how to build rail). I’m wondering if 4” is too shallow ? It will be 30” long.
Mine is 3”. Hope that helps you out! 🤗
Do these come in a black option?
I haven’t seen them in black-but you could spray paint them since they’re unlaquered, they will take a finish. Just make sure you use a good sealer