C360 free-machining brass is the easiest metal there is to turn. Machine shops use it for fittings, valve parts, bushings, electrical terminals, gauge parts and decorative hardware. We source C360 round, hex and square rod, plus lead-free and naval brass for parts that need them, arrange saw cuts to length, and deliver across Texas.
What brass rod is used for, and how to pick it
C360 is the benchmark other alloys' machinability is rated against, at 100. The lead in it breaks chips into small pieces, so it runs at high speeds with long tool life and a fine finish. For most turned parts, it's the right call.
Three cases need something else. Parts that touch drinking water need a lead-free machining brass such as C69300, because federal rules cap lead in potable-water fittings. Parts that live in salt water are better in naval brass (C464), which resists dezincification. Parts that get bent, flared or crimped need a forming alloy, because C360 cracks when it's cold worked hard.
Bronze is its own family. Bearing bronze (C932, often called SAE 660) is for bushings and sliding wear parts. Aluminum bronze (C954) handles heavier loads in gears, bushings and wear plates. Both can be sourced alongside brass on the same order.
Brass and bronze rod grades
| Grade/temper | Why pick it | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| C360 half hard | Free-machining. Small chips, fast cycle times, excellent finish. Fittings, bushings, terminals, hardware. | Contains about 3% lead. Not for drinking-water parts. Cracks if bent or cold formed. |
| C69300 lead-free | Machines well and meets lead-free rules for potable-water fittings. | Doesn't run quite as fast as C360. |
| C464 naval brass | Resists dezincification in salt water. Marine hardware, shafts and fittings. | Harder to machine than C360. |
| C932 bearing bronze | Wear resistance for bushings and bearings. Solid and cored bar. | Not a brass. Lower strength than aluminum bronze under heavy load. |
| C954 aluminum bronze | High strength and wear resistance for heavy-duty bushings, gears and wear plates. | Tougher on tooling than C932 or C360. |
Common brass rod sizes
| Shape | Commonly available sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Round rod | 1/8" to 4" diameter | 12 ft bars or cut to length; larger diameters can be sourced |
| Hex rod | 1/4" to 2" across flats | Nuts, fittings and standoffs |
| Square rod | 1/4" to 2" | Less common than round and hex |
| Flat and rectangle bar | 1/8" to 1" thick, 1/2" to 4" wide | Plates, lugs and decorative hardware |
| Bronze bar | C932 solid and cored bar, C954 round | Cored bar saves turning out the bore on bushings |
Sizes only. Metal prices move daily, so every order is quoted.
Cut-to-size options for brass rod
Brass rod is saw cut to length. Standard cuts typically land within about a sixteenth of an inch. Ask for precision cuts if your parts go straight into a collet with little facing. Short chucking blanks are a normal order.
Cuts are arranged through our supply network. On long runs, compare cut blanks against full 12-foot bars fed through your own bar feeder. We can quote both ways so you can see which makes sense for the job.
What to include in your quote request
- Alloy: C360, lead-free C69300, naval C464, or a bronze
- Shape and size: diameter, hex across flats, or square
- Cut length and quantity, or full 12 ft bars
- Length tolerance and any facing allowance
- Whether the part touches drinking water
- Mill certs or a spec such as ASTM B16, if required
- Ship-to ZIP code