Brass grades explained
BrassRoute guide · updated 8 October 2026
Most Jamnagar parts are made from free-cutting brass rod. Name the grade on your drawing and every supplier quotes on the same metal.
The grades you will meet
| Grade | Standard | Also called | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| CW614N | EN 12164 (rod for free machining) | CuZn39Pb3, formerly CZ121 in BS 2874 | The standard free-cutting brass for turned parts, inserts and fittings |
| CW617N | EN 12165 (forging stock) | CuZn40Pb2 | Hot-forged bodies: valves, fittings, gas parts |
| C36000 | ASTM B16 | Free-cutting brass | The common choice on drawings from North America |
| C37700 | ASTM B124 | Forging brass | Forged parts to American drawings |
| CW602N | EN 12164 / EN 12165 | CuZn36Pb2As, DZR brass | Water fittings where dezincification must be resisted |
| CW724R | EN 12164 | CuZn21Si3P, a lead-free silicon brass | Drinking-water parts where lead limits apply |
| IS 319 | Indian Standard for free-cutting brass bars, rods and sections | Free-cutting leaded brass | Rods made and sold within India |
How to choose
- Turned part from bar: write CW614N, C36000 or IS 319, whichever your market uses.
- Forged body: write CW617N or C37700.
- Drinking water: check the lead limit that applies where the part will be sold, and specify DZR or lead-free brass if needed.
- Electrical part: say the plating (tin, nickel, silver) and its thickness as well as the grade.
Ask for proof
Ask the supplier for a mill test certificate for the rod, and for important orders a third-party chemical analysis of a finished sample. Jamnagar units commonly use spectrometers to check every melt.
Questions buyers ask
Is CW614N the same as C36000?
They are close but not identical. Both are leaded free-cutting brasses with about 57 to 62 percent copper and about 3 percent lead, made to different standards. If your drawing names one, ask the supplier to confirm they can supply that exact grade.
What does DZR brass mean?
Dezincification-resistant brass. Ordinary brass can lose zinc in some water, leaving a weak, porous part. DZR grades such as CW602N are made to resist this.
Can Jamnagar suppliers make lead-free brass parts?
Some can. Lead-free rod costs more and machines differently, so name the grade on the requirement and ask for the rod certificate with the quote.
Get quotes from these suppliers
Post your requirement once with your drawing. Our team passes it to Jamnagar units that make this product, and you compare their quotes side by side. Free during pre-launch.