W.H. Bagshaw Company offers custom-made precision brass components for any application.
Discover the Benefits of Brass
A copper and zinc alloy known for its distinctive dark-gold color, brass is commonly used for both aesthetic and practical purposes. It boasts certain properties that make it popular for CNC machined parts, including:
- Low friction
- Good corrosion resistance
- High malleability
- Non-ferromagnetic
- Excellent heat and electrical conductivity
- Superior machinability
Brass can also be plated, delivering additional benefits. These qualities, as well as brass’s relative affordability, make CNC brass turned parts excellent candidates for high-volume orders.

Popular Brass Alloys
The physical properties of different grades of brass — and, therefore, brass CNC turned parts — vary slightly depending on their chemical composition. The two most common grades of brass are:
- Free Machining Brass: Also known as C36000, alloy 360, or free cutting brass, free machining brass consists of approximately 60%-63% copper, 33%–37% zinc, 2.5%–3% lead, and 0.35% iron. It is one of the most versatile and commonly used grades of brass due to its excellent machinability rating, tensile strength, and corrosion resistance.
- Naval Brass: Also known as C46400 brass, Naval brass consists of approximately 60% copper, 40% zinc, and 1% tin. It gets its name from the fact that it’s commonly used in marine construction because its high corrosion resistance and hardness make it suitable for fresh and saltwater applications.

Common CNC Brass Parts & Applications
Due to its exceptional machinability, brass can be used to create a wide variety of custom precision parts, including:
- Valves
- Nozzles
- Bearings
- Fluid fittings
- And more
Precision brass components are commonly used for applications in the electronics and medical industries; however, brass is suitable for use in almost any industry.

CNC Brass Parts at a Glance
- CNC Brass Parts at a Glance PropertiesAlloysCommon PartsCommon ApplicationsLow FrictionFree Machining Brass (C36000)ValvesElectronicsGood corrosion resistanceNaval Brass (C46400)BearingsMedicalHigh malleabilityBearingsExcellent heat and electrical conductivityFluid fittingsSuperior machinability
Why Choose W.H. Bagshaw Company?
With over 150 years of experience manufacturing brass parts, W.H. Bagshaw Company offers a truly unparalleled level of expertise in custom brass machining. We work with both free machining and Naval brass and offer numerous plating options, including electroless nickel plating, which adds a less porous, all-enveloping barrier to CNC brass parts for superior corrosion resistance. All of our precision CNC machining operations adhere to strict quality standards, and our company is ISO 9001:2015-certified.

