C360 Brass Turned Parts

Free-cutting brass — the machinability benchmark, corrosion-resistant with a superb natural finish.

At a glance

Stocked condition	Half-hard, as drawn
Machinability	Outstanding — the benchmark all ratings reference
Weldability	Not weldable (solders and brazes beautifully)
Corrosion resistance	Good — water, atmosphere, and many process fluids
Hardening	Not heat-treatable
Density (nominal)	0.307 lb/in³ — heavier than steel
Food contact	No (leaded)
Magnetic	No

C360 is the material every machinability rating is measured against: it turns effortlessly, holds tight tolerances, and comes off the tool with a finish other metals need polishing to match. Add natural corrosion resistance, low friction against steel, and non-sparking behavior, and it earns its permanent spot in fittings, valves, and bushings.

Its lead content (the source of the free-cutting behavior) keeps it out of potable-water and food-contact service under modern rules, and its strength is modest — this is a precision and corrosion pick, not a power-transmission one.

Configure a C360 part →

Any geometry in the configurator — diameters, threads, keyseats, grooves, holes, tapers — can be machined in C360. Pick the material in the sidebar and the price updates live.

When to choose C360

Bushings, bearings, and thrust washers running against steel.
Valve and instrument fittings needing tight tolerance and fine finish.
Non-sparking or non-magnetic hardware requirements.

Consider instead

303 stainless — more strength with comparable corrosion resistance.
2011 — a third of the weight with similar machinability.
12L14 — cheaper when corrosion resistance is not needed.

Typical applications

Bushings and plain bearings
Valve stems and instrument fittings
Electrical hardware and terminals
Non-sparking tools and pins

Frequently Asked Questions

C360's lead-bearing chemistry shears into tiny chips with almost no tool pressure, letting it run at maximum speeds with excellent finish and tolerance. Machinability ratings for other alloys are expressed as a percentage of it (or its steel counterpart B1112).

No — its lead content exceeds modern potable-water limits (NSF/lead-free rules). Low-lead brass alloys exist for plumbing, but C360 is not one; keep it to industrial fluids and dry service.

Dissimilar metals with brass's low friction resist galling and seizure, brass embeds grit harmlessly, and it wears sacrificially — protecting the more expensive shaft. That tribology is why bronze and brass own the plain-bearing niche.

Stocked as C360 free-cutting brass. Material and condition are paired — each grade ships in one condition optimized for our process; see all grades on the materials page.