Published June 11, 2026 • ScrapMetalBuyers.com

Tungsten Carbide Scrap: What It's Worth and Where to Sell (2026)

Tungsten carbide is one of the most valuable industrial scrap materials — worth 20–50x more per pound than steel. If you have carbide inserts, end mills, drill bits, or solid carbide tooling, you're sitting on serious money. Here's everything you need to know.

Tungsten Carbide Scrap Prices (2026)

• Solid Carbide End Mills and Drill Bits (clean, no steel shanks): $8.00–$14.00/lb
• Carbide Inserts (indexable, clean): $10.00–$16.00/lb
• Carbide Rods and Blanks: $9.00–$14.00/lb
• Mixed Carbide (various forms, clean): $7.00–$12.00/lb
• Carbide Sludge/Grinding Swarf: $2.00–$5.00/lb (lower due to processing costs)
• Carbide with Steel Brazed Shanks: $3.00–$7.00/lb (discounted for steel content)

How to Identify Tungsten Carbide

Carbide is easy to identify once you know what to look for:

• Extremely heavy for its size — much denser than steel
• Gray color with a metallic sheen
• Extremely hard — will scratch glass easily and resist a file
• Spark test: Produces very few, short, dull sparks when ground (unlike steel's bright sparks)
• Common forms: Indexable inserts (small geometric shapes), round end mills, drill bits, saw tips, wear parts

What Reduces Carbide Value

Several things will lower your carbide payout:

• Steel brazed shanks: Carbide-tipped tools with steel shanks are worth less than solid carbide. Some buyers will separate them; others discount the whole lot.
• Coatings (TiN, TiAlN, etc.): Coated carbide is still valuable but may be slightly discounted at some buyers.
• Mixed with other metals: Keep carbide separate from steel, aluminum, and other metals.
• Carbide sludge or grinding swarf: Lower value due to processing requirements.

Where to Sell Carbide Scrap

Local scrap yards often don't accept carbide or pay far below market value. Specialized industrial buyers like ScrapMetalBuyers.com pay top-of-market prices for all forms of carbide. We buy:

• Carbide inserts (any brand, any grade)
• Solid carbide end mills and drill bits
• Carbide rods and blanks
• Carbide wear parts and dies
• Carbide sludge and grinding swarf

Call 954-488-0700 for a same-day carbide quote. We offer free shipping labels for small lots and free pickup for large quantities.

FAQ

1. How do I separate carbide from steel-shank tools?

Carbide tips can be separated from steel shanks by heating the brazed joint with a torch until the brazing alloy melts. This takes practice — for large quantities, ask your buyer if they accept brazed tools at a discount rather than separating them yourself.

2. Are worn or broken carbide inserts worth anything?

Yes. Worn and broken carbide inserts are worth the same as new ones for scrap purposes — the tungsten content doesn't change with wear.

3. What about carbide from mining equipment?

Mining carbide (drill bits, roller cone bits, button bits) is valuable scrap. The carbide content in mining bits is typically 80–90% tungsten carbide. Contact ScrapMetalBuyers.com for large mining carbide lots.

4. Can I mail carbide scrap to a buyer?

Yes. For small lots (under 50 lbs), many buyers including ScrapMetalBuyers.com will provide a prepaid shipping label. Call us to arrange.

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