GRADE GUIDE · CUZN37
CuZn37 (CW508L / C27200) is common brass — 63% copper, 37% zinc, the standard grade for cold forming. It deep-draws, spins, bends and rivets better than any other everyday brass, which makes it the default for sheet and strip work.
Also listed as: CW508L · C27200 · Ms63 (old DIN) · 2.0321
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The 63/37 ratio sits at the sweet spot of the brass system: maximum zinc (economy) while staying single-phase alpha brass (ductility). That is why cartridge cases, lamp parts, hinges, decorative panels and drawn hardware are made from this grade — it moves under the press without cracking and polishes to the classic brass finish.
It is the complement to free-machining CuZn39Pb3: forming jobs take CuZn37, turning jobs take the leaded grade. Off-cuts arrive as sheet, strip and the odd bar from fit-out and manufacturing work; for architectural use note that brass tarnishes in coastal air and lives best lacquered or regularly polished.
By process: forming versus machining. CuZn37 bends and draws without cracking; the leaded 39Pb3 chips freely at the lathe but hates being bent. Using either in the other's role wastes material.
Yes — it soft-solders and silver-brazes readily, which suits decorative assembly and lighting work. Welding is possible with care but zinc fuming makes brazing the usual joining route.
It dulls to brown and can spot in salty coastal air, though it never rusts. Architectural pieces are usually lacquered or maintained by polishing; inland and indoors it holds its finish well.