Metal

Brass C360 (Free-Machining) in Canadian Manufacturing

C360 brass is the gold standard for high-volume turned parts: plumbing fittings, valve bodies, electrical connectors, gas-system components, and precision instrument hardware. Its lead content (~3%) gives it the best machinability rating of any common metal — 100% on the standard scale. Stocked nationally by Canadian service centres and run daily by Canadian Swiss-turning shops.

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Canadian sourcing CUSMA context included Matched to domestic suppliers

Brass C360 in Canadian Manufacturing

C360 — also called “free-cutting brass” or “free-machining brass” — is the bread-and-butter material of Canadian Swiss-turning shops. Plumbing supply manufacturers, gas-fitting producers, electrical hardware companies, and precision instrument makers all depend on a steady supply of C360 hex and round bar processed through high-volume CNC and Swiss machines.

Why C360 Dominates Turned Parts

The 3% lead in C360 transforms machinability. Chips fragment cleanly into short, manageable pieces that don’t bird-nest around the tool or scratch the part. Carbide tooling lasts 5–10x longer than in stainless. Surface finishes of 16–32 µin Ra come straight off the lathe with no secondary finishing. Tolerance hold is excellent because C360 doesn’t work-harden the way austenitic stainless does. The combination is why C360 is the benchmark — a 100% machinability rating, against which every other metal is compared.

Lead-Free Trade-offs

Regulations have tightened around lead in plumbing brass. Canada follows NSF/ANSI 372 — drinking-water components must contain ≤0.25% weighted lead. C693 (EnviroBrass), C87850, and C27450 are the common Canadian-stocked lead-free alternatives. They machine roughly 70–85% as well as C360 and cost slightly more, but for plumbing distributors selling into the residential market, the spec change is non-negotiable. Quote both in parallel if you’re not sure which regime applies.

Canadian Supply

C360 is broadly stocked: round bar from 3 mm to 75 mm diameter, hex bar in standard wrench sizes, rectangular shapes for connector and bus-bar work. Service-centre lead times for standard sizes are typically same-week. Specialty profiles (flat strip, tube, large hex) may run 2–4 weeks.

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Tell us the part geometry, quantity, and whether the part contacts potable water. We route to Canadian Swiss-turning, CNC-turning, and stamping shops that run brass at scale.

Specifications

Brass C360 (Free-Machining) at a Glance

Density
8.49 g/cm³
Tensile Strength
385 MPa (half-hard)
Melting Point
885–900 °C
Operating Temp
−40 to 200 °C
Machinability
Excellent (100% — the benchmark for the rating scale)
Canadian Supply Chain

Where It's Made in Canada

C360 brass round bar, hex bar, and rectangular shapes are stocked nationally by Russel Metals, Samuel, Metal Supermarkets, and regional non-ferrous specialists. Most C360 sold in Canada originates from US mills (Mueller Industries, Wieland) or European producers, with some Asian-origin material; all CUSMA/CETA-eligible material is widely available. Lead-restricted and lead-free brass alternatives (C272, C693 EnviroBrass, C87850) are stocked for drinking-water and California Proposition 65–compliant applications.

Cost range (CAD): $15–25/kg raw bar (varies with copper commodity price)
Tariff context: US-mill C360 qualifies under CUSMA; European brass qualifies under CETA. Note that brass commodity pricing tracks copper closely — quotes typically include a metal surcharge clause for orders with delivery beyond 30 days. Drinking-water applications in Canada must meet NSF/ANSI 372 (≤0.25% weighted lead content) — confirm with a lead-free brass alloy if the part contacts potable water.

Domestic suppliers

  • Russel Metals (Non-ferrous Division)
    Mississauga, ON (national)

    C360 round, hex, square bar — full size range

  • Samuel, Son & Co.
    Mississauga, ON (national)

    Brass and copper service centre — cut-to-size

  • Metal Supermarkets
    National (90+ Canadian locations)

    Small-quantity C360 bar for prototype shops

  • Boyd Metals
    Edmonton, AB

    Western Canada non-ferrous distribution

  • Acme Brass and Copper
    Toronto, ON

    Specialty brass and copper alloys, lead-free options

Typical Applications

Plumbing fittings and valve bodies
Gas system components and orifices
Electrical terminals and connector pins
Precision instrument hardware
Decorative architectural hardware
Fasteners and threaded inserts
Watch and clock components

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use C360 vs lead-free brass?
Use C360 (3% lead) for any application where the part does not contact potable water or food, and where machinability matters more than lead content. Drinking-water valves, fittings, and any plumbing carrying potable water in Canada must be lead-free under NSF/ANSI 372 — specify C693 (EnviroBrass), C87850, or C272 instead. For decorative hardware, electrical terminals, gas fittings, and industrial instruments, C360 remains the standard.
Why is C360 so much cheaper to machine?
The lead content acts as a built-in chip-breaker and lubricant. Chips break short, tool life is long, surface finish is excellent right off the cutter, and Swiss-turning machines can run unattended through the night. A C360 turned part typically costs 30–50% less to produce than the same part in stainless or aluminum, before material cost. For high-volume turned parts, this often outweighs the higher per-kilogram price of the brass itself.
Are Canadian Swiss turning shops set up for brass at scale?
Yes. Several Canadian Swiss turning specialists in Quebec, Ontario, and BC run dedicated C360 cells producing fittings, instrument parts, and connectors at multi-thousand-piece quantities per shift. Tornos, Citizen, and Star Swiss machines with bar feeders are the typical setup. For high-volume valve and fitting work, capacity is genuinely competitive with US and European suppliers — there's no need to offshore.
What about copper alloy alternatives like aluminum bronze or naval brass?
Use aluminum bronze (C95400) for marine bearings, bushings, and components needing higher strength and saltwater resistance. Use naval brass (C464) for marine fittings where you want better dezincification resistance than C360. For cryogenic or specialty thermal applications, copper-nickel alloys (C70600, C71500) or pure copper grades may be preferred. C360 covers the majority of dry, indoor industrial brass work.

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