# How Viewrail's Hidden Fasteners Work One of the first things people notice about Viewrail cable railing is what they *don't* see: no bulky hardware sticking out of the posts, no exposed bolts, and no fittings interrupting the view. Every Viewrail cable system is engineered so the tensioning and anchoring hardware lives *inside* the post, keeping your sightlines completely clear. Here's how it works and how to know which kit applies to your project. If you need the full system overview first, start with [What is Cable Railing?](/guides/about-stairs-and-railing/what-is-cable-railing.md). ### Why Hidden Fasteners? Traditional cable railing hardware is functional, but it's not pretty. Exposed fittings can protrude several inches from the face of a post, cluttering the clean horizontal lines that make cable railing worth choosing in the first place. Viewrail solved this by designing fastener systems that work entirely inside the post. The posts themselves come pre-drilled to accept the hardware, so there's no guesswork during installation — you mount the posts, run the cable, and the tensioning hardware disappears inside. If you are still choosing post types or mounting conditions, see [What Cable Railing Post Mounting Styles Are There?](/guides/planning/choose-the-right-railing-for-your-project/cable-railing-post-mounting-styles-compared.md). The result is a railing that looks as refined outdoors as it does inside. That's a higher standard than most cable railing manufacturers hold themselves to. {% columns %} {% column %}

Exterior Signature Rod Railing

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Interior Signature Rod Railing

{% endcolumn %} {% endcolumns %} ### The Hidden Fastener Kits Viewrail offers four distinct hardware kits, each designed for a specific situation. Understanding which kit does what will help you plan your project correctly. #### Level Tension Kit The Level Tension Kit is the workhorse of any straight, horizontal cable run. It anchors and tensions one end of a cable wire from inside the post. No hardware is visible from the outside. Each kit contains three components: * **Tension Receiver** — accepts the fitting and allows you to dial in tension * **Threaded Crimp Fitting** — crimped onto the end of the cable wire * **Adhesive Sleeve** — provides a clean finish at the post face You'll need one kit per cable, per tensioning end. For a 36" post with 10 cable runs, that's 10 Level Tension Kits at each end post. Viewrail's 5/32" 316 stainless steel cable is used with this system. > **Note:** The Level Tension Kit only works with Viewrail's metal posts. For wood posts, see DriveTite below.

Level Tension Kit

#### Angle Tension Kit The Angle Tension Kit works the same way as the Level Tension Kit, but it's designed for stair and angle applications where the cable runs on a slope rather than a level plane. The key differences from the level version: * Includes an **Angle Washer** that sits on the back side of the post to accommodate the cable's entry angle (select the washer that matches your stair pitch) * Uses an **Adhesive Sleeve** with a beveled interior diameter to provide extra cable clearance at the angle Each kit contains: * Tension Receiver * Threaded Crimp Fitting * Angle Washer (angle-specific) * Angle Adhesive Sleeve Like the Level Tension Kit, this is a metal-post-only system. DriveTite handles angled wood-post installations.

Angle Tension Kit

#### Inside Post Mount Kit The Inside Post Mount Kit solves a problem that most cable railing manufacturers handle poorly: corners. In a typical cable railing system, turning a 90° corner requires two posts — one to terminate the first run and one to start the perpendicular run. The Inside Post Mount Kit lets you do it with a single post, keeping the cables on the same plane and saving you both cost and visual bulk. Here's how it works: the Termination Washer and Cable Stop are inserted diagonally through a 5/16" hole in the post, then rotated 90° so they lock against the inside wall. Once tension is applied at the other end of the run using a Level or Angle Tension Kit, the hardware pulls tight and stays put, entirely out of sight. Each kit contains: * Termination Washer Fitting * Cable Stop * Adhesive Sleeve **Important:** The Inside Post Mount Kit provides no tensioning ability on its own. Every run that uses this kit at one end must use a Level Tension Kit or Angle Tension Kit at the other end to keep the cables taut.

Inside Post Mount Kit

#### DriveTite Kit DriveTite is Viewrail's solution for wood posts, whether you're working with brand-new posts, existing posts you want to keep, or a framed wall structure. If you're still deciding between wood and metal posts, see [Wood vs Metal Railing Posts: Which Is Better for Cable Railing?](/guides/planning/choose-the-right-railing-for-your-project/wood-vs-metal-railing-posts-which-is-better-for-cable-railing.md). Instead of threading hardware through a hollow metal post, DriveTite fastens into the face of the wood post using a small pilot hole. The tensioning components are then concealed inside a slim stainless steel cylindrical cover, giving wood-post systems the same clean look as the metal post systems. DriveTite comes in two versions: **Level Kit** — for horizontal cable runs. Each kit includes: * Receiver Screw * Threaded Crimp Fitting * DriveTite Turnbuckle * DriveTite Receiver * DriveTite Cover **Angle Kit** — for stair and angled cable runs. Each kit includes: * Threaded Crimp Fitting * DriveTite Angle Mount * DriveTite Angle Receiver * DriveTite Angle Set Screw DriveTite works with solid wood posts at least 2½" thick. All components are manufactured from marine-grade 316 stainless steel. It's compatible with 5/32" cable and pairs with both the Signature and Express cable systems.

DriveTite Level Kit

DriveTite Angle Kit

### How the Kits Work Together Most cable runs involve at least two posts: a start and an end. The hardware you choose at each end determines how the tension is managed across the span. A typical level run might look like this: * **Post A (end post):** Level Tension Kit — applies and adjusts tension * **Post B (end post):** Level Tension Kit or Inside Post Mount Kit — anchors the other end A stair run might use: * **Post A:** Angle Tension Kit * **Post B:** Angle Tension Kit or Inside Post Mount Kit Corner transitions use: * **Corner post:** Inside Post Mount Kit on the terminating run, Level Tension Kit on the starting run — all within the same post This is the detail that sets Viewrail apart from most other cable railing brands. The ability to manage a 90° corner in one post, with all hardware hidden inside, is a direct result of how the post holes and kit geometry are engineered together. ### What You'll Need for Installation All cable railing systems use Viewrail's **5/32" 316 stainless steel, 1×19 cable**. The 1×19 construction means 19 individual wire strands wound into a single cable. It's durable, holds tension well, and has a smooth, consistent surface that makes crimping clean and precise. You'll also need a **Cable Rail Installation Kit**, which includes the specialized tools required for cutting and crimping the cable. The crimp fitting won't seat properly without the right crimper, so don't skip it. For DriveTite installations, Viewrail offers a dedicated **DriveTite Installation Kit** with the tools matched to that system. For the full install sequence, see [How Do I Install a Cable Railing System?](/guides/install/how-do-i-install-a-cable-or-rod-railing-system.md) and [Is DIY Cable Railing Installation Worth It?](/guides/install/is-diy-cable-railing-installation-worth-it.md). ### Related topics * [What is Cable Railing?](/guides/about-stairs-and-railing/what-is-cable-railing.md) — Learn how posts, cable, and hardware work together. * [What Cable Railing Post Mounting Styles Are There?](/guides/planning/choose-the-right-railing-for-your-project/cable-railing-post-mounting-styles-compared.md) — Match your hidden fastener setup to the right post mount. * [Wood vs Metal Railing Posts: Which Is Better for Cable Railing?](/guides/planning/choose-the-right-railing-for-your-project/wood-vs-metal-railing-posts-which-is-better-for-cable-railing.md) — Decide when to use metal-post kits or DriveTite. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://resources.viewrail.com/guides/about-stairs-and-railing/railing-system-deep-dives/how-viewrails-hidden-fasteners-work.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.