Brass Sheet, Bar & Tube Buying Guide: C2600, C2680, C2800 & H62/H65 — How to Specify Copper-Zinc Alloy for Fittings, Valves, and Fabrication
Brass — copper alloyed with zinc — machines beautifully, resists dezincification in water service when correctly specified, and takes a bright polish that sells plumbing trim and musical instruments. The alloy decides strength and formability; the temper decides whether the sheet deep-draws or the rod turns cleanly on an automatic lathe. Specify the wrong grade and the hot-forged valve cracks, the cold-formed case splits, or you pay cartridge-brass money for commodity plumbing duty.
This guide compares the brass grades buyers order most, the product forms, tempers, standards, and a complete RFQ checklist.
Brass Grades Compared
| Grade | Cu-Zn | Key Trait | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| C26000 (C2600 / H70) | 70-30 cartridge brass | Best cold forming | Deep-drawn cases, springs, terminals |
| C26800 (C2680 / H65) | 65-35 | Forming + strength balance | General sheet, hardware, trim |
| C28000 (C2800 / H62) | 60-40 | Strong, hot-workable | Plates, structural, hot forgings |
| C36000 (free-cutting) | 61.5 + Pb | Best machinability | Automatic-lathe parts, fittings |
| C46400 (naval brass) | Cu-Zn-Sn | Seawater resistance | Marine hardware, shafts |
Forms: Sheet, Bar, Tube, Wire
- Sheet / plate: 0.2–6 mm; hardware, trim, heat exchangers.
- Round / hex bar: automatic machining stock, valves, fittings.
- Tube: condenser, plumbing, ornamental.
- Wire: springs, terminals, brushes.
Temper Guide
- O (soft): deep drawing and spinning.
- 1/2 hard: general presswork and forming.
- Hard / extra-hard: springs, clips, flatness-critical parts.
- Free-cutting rod: as-drawn, ready for high-speed turning.
Lead Content and Water-Service Rules
- Standard free-cutting brass contains ~2–3% lead for machinability.
- Drinking-water fittings in many markets now require low-lead / lead-free grades — state the regulation (e.g., US Safe Drinking Water Act, EU DWD).
- For dezincification-prone hot water, specify DZR (dezincification-resistant) grades such as CW602N.
Standards Buyers Quote
- ASTM B36 / B134 / B135: brass sheet, strip, plate, tube, and wire.
- ASTM B16 / B124: free-cutting rod and forgings.
- EN 1652 / 12164 / 12449: European plate, rod, and tube.
- JIS H3100 / H3250 / H3300: Japanese sheet, rod, tube (C2600/C2680/C2800/H62/H65).
Common Applications
- Plumbing fittings, valves, and meters.
- Electrical terminals and connectors.
- Marine hardware (naval brass).
- Decorative trim and instruments.
RFQ Checklist
- Grade: C2600 / C2680 / C2800 / C36000 / naval (+ JIS or H-grade)
- Form + dimensions: sheet / bar / tube / wire
- Temper: O / 1/2 hard / hard / as-drawn
- Lead rule: standard / low-lead / DZR — state the regulation
- Quantity, packing, MTC, destination / Incoterm
FAQ
H65 or H62 for presswork? H65 (C2680) for cold forming; H62 (C2800) where strength matters more than drawability.
Which rod for automatic lathes? C36000 free-cutting — cycle times drop dramatically versus lead-free grades.
Brass for drinking water? Only low-lead/DZR grades approved to the destination market’s regulation — confirm before ordering.
Why Source Brass from Yihang Metal
Yihang Metal supplies brass sheet, bar, tube, and wire in C2600/C2680/C2800, C36000 free-cutting, and naval brass to ASTM, EN, and JIS standards, in soft through hard tempers, with mill test certificates and RoHS/lead-compliance documentation on request. Standard sizes typically ship in 20–30 days.
Ready to specify your brass? Send us the grade, form, dimensions, temper, and lead rule, and we will confirm mill availability and lead time with a fixed-price quote and MTC. Email [email protected] or use the quote form on this page — our team replies within one business day.