Technical Foundation
What Is a Brass Tubing?
Brass tubing is a copper-zinc alloy tube produced either seamless (extruded or drawn from solid billet, with no longitudinal joint) or welded (formed from strip and seam-welded), sized by outside diameter and wall thickness. C260 (cartridge brass, 70% copper/30% zinc) is the general-purpose alloy prized for good formability and moderate strength, while C360 (free-machining brass, with ~3% lead added) machines cleanly into bushings, fittings and small precision parts but is not recommended for cold forming or welding due to that lead content.
Temper — annealed (soft), half-hard, or hard — controls formability versus strength, with soft temper needed for bending or flaring and harder tempers preferred where the tube is used as-is structurally. Seamless tube is specified where pressure rating, leak integrity or appearance at a cut edge matters; welded tube is typically lower cost and adequate for non-pressure structural and decorative use.
Prefer a quick quote?
Get Brass Tubing Pricing in Your Inbox
Skip the search — tell us the alloy, OD/wall dimensions and length and we will come back with pricing.
| Spec | What It Means | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Alloy | C260 (cartridge brass), C360 (free-machining) | C260 forms and solders well; C360 machines cleanly but shouldn't be cold-formed or welded |
| Construction | Seamless vs. welded | Seamless gives better pressure integrity and a cleaner cut edge for plumbing and instrument lines |
| Temper | Soft (annealed), half-hard, hard | Soft temper is required for bending/flaring; hard temper suits rigid structural use |
| OD / Wall Thickness | Fractional and metric sizes, per ASTM B135 | Wall thickness sets pressure rating and determines machinability for thin-wall parts |
| Standard | ASTM B135 (seamless brass tube) | Governs chemical composition, mechanical properties and dimensional tolerance |
Shop Brass Tubing
Browse Brass Tubing Sub-Categories
Organised by construction and shape. Pick a sub-category, or describe the OD, wall and alloy and let ChatMRO match the stock.
How it works
From Half-Remembered Part Number to PO, in Three Steps.
Ask
Type an MPN, paste a spec sheet, or describe the part in plain English. ChatMRO understands engineer-speak.
Compare
Side-by-side specs, cross-references, and equivalents from multiple sources — without the clutter of endless browser tabs.
Quote & Buy
Request a quote or add to cart. Volume discounts, VAT-aware pricing, and consolidated procurement — all in one place.
Applications
Where Brass Tubing Get Used
Brass tubing is specified anywhere corrosion resistance, solderability, or clean machinability matters more than the higher strength-to-weight of steel or aluminum tube.
Plumbing & Instrumentation
Seamless C260 tube used for compression-fitting instrument lines and small-bore fluid runs where corrosion resistance matters.
Precision Machining
C360 free-machining tube turned into bushings, spacers, and small fittings on screw machines and CNC lathes.
Musical Instrument & Decorative Fabrication
Thin-wall brass tube formed and soldered into architectural trim, railings, and instrument components.
Model Engineering & Hobby Fabrication
Small-diameter telescoping brass tube stocked in matched OD/ID pairs for RC, model and prototype builds.
HVAC & Refrigeration Fittings
Brass tube machined into fitting bodies and adapters compatible with copper refrigerant lines.
Electrical & Electronics Hardware
Brass tube used as conductive bushings, standoffs, and connector shells where solderability is required.
FAQ
Brass Tubing Questions, Answered
What's the difference between C260 and C360 brass tubing?
C260 (cartridge brass) is a 70/30 copper-zinc alloy with excellent cold-forming and soldering characteristics, making it the standard choice for tubing that will be bent, flared, or fabricated. C360 adds roughly 3% lead for free-machining performance — it turns and drills cleanly with excellent surface finish but is brittle under cold forming and not recommended for welding or brazing due to the lead content.
Should I choose seamless or welded brass tube?
Seamless tube has no longitudinal joint and gives more consistent pressure rating and a cleaner appearance at a cut or machined edge, making it the standard for pressure lines, instrument tubing, and any application where the tube will be visible after fabrication. Welded tube costs less and is adequate for non-pressure structural, decorative, or low-stress applications where the seam isn't a concern.
What temper of brass tube do I need for bending or flaring?
Soft (annealed) temper is required for tight-radius bending or flaring without cracking. Half-hard tube can handle gentle bends but is more likely to crack on tight radii or repeated flexing. Hard temper is intended for applications where the tube is used rigidly as supplied and isn't going to be formed further.
Can brass tubing be used for compressed air or hydraulic lines?
Brass tube is commonly used for low-pressure instrument air and gauge lines, but pressure rating drops sharply as wall thickness decreases, so the specific OD/wall combination must be checked against the working pressure and a suitable safety factor. For higher-pressure hydraulic service, steel or stainless tube is generally specified instead of brass.
How does brass tubing size get specified — by OD or ID?
Brass tube is almost always specified by outside diameter (OD) and wall thickness, unlike brass pipe which is sized by nominal pipe size and schedule. This matters for telescoping fits (one tube's ID matching another's OD) and for fitting compatibility, so always confirm both OD and wall thickness rather than OD alone.
Keep browsing
Related Categories
Explore More
Find Your Next Part Now.
Describe a part number, spec or what it does.