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CARBIDE SELLER GUIDE
Carbide or HSS? 5 Tests Before You Sell
Gold-colored HSS looks like carbide and is not. Here are five tests to tell them apart before you sell — because the value difference is enormous.
Why identification matters.
Tungsten carbide scrap is among the most valuable scrap metals you can hold. High-speed steel is worth a small fraction of it. The trap: TiN-coated HSS — high-speed steel with a gold titanium-nitride coating that looks exactly like premium carbide tooling. Sellers who cannot tell the difference either leave money on the table or embarrass themselves with a buyer. Five minutes of testing fixes it.
The five tests.
1. Weight. Carbide is dramatically denser than steel — nearly twice the weight for the same size. Heft is the fastest test. 2. Magnet. HSS is strongly magnetic; carbide is only weakly magnetic at most. 3. Spark test. Touch it to a grinder: HSS throws long bright sparks; carbide gives short, dull-red sparks. 4. Scratch and sound. Carbide is far harder — it scratches steel easily and rings with a distinctive high pitch when tapped. 5. Look past the coating. Gold color proves coating, not carbide. Check the shank or a worn edge where the base metal shows.
What to do with each result.
Confirmed carbide — inserts, end mills, drills, burrs — goes to a carbide buyer (that is us). Confirmed HSS goes in the high-speed steel stream, which is its own smaller market. Mixed or uncertain lots: photograph them and ask; a buyer would rather help you sort than regrade your load at the dock.
Sell it the straightforward way.
Photograph what you have — nameplates, labels, and overall condition — and send it to Ironcrest for today’s offer. We buy nationally and coordinate pickup from your site.
Sell your carbide to Ironcrest → | Call or text 312-880-8174 | Send photos →
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions, answered.
Is gold-colored tooling always carbide?
No — that is the trap. Gold usually means titanium-nitride coating, which is applied to both carbide AND high-speed steel. Test the base metal, not the color.
Will a magnet stick to carbide?
Only weakly, if at all. Strong magnetic attraction means steel — likely HSS. The magnet test is the fastest single screen.
What is the spark test?
Touch the tool to a grinding wheel and watch the sparks: HSS throws long, bright, branching sparks; carbide produces short, dull reddish sparks. Do it safely with eye protection.
Are carbide-tipped tools solid carbide?
No — tipped tools are steel bodies with carbide tips brazed on. They are valuable (the brazed-carbide category) but priced below solid carbide. See our brazed vs solid guide.
Can I sell a mixed lot of carbide and HSS?
Yes, but sort first if you can — mixed lots get graded conservatively. Photograph uncertain pieces and we will help you sort.
THE IMPOSTER
Gold does not mean carbide.
Titanium-nitride-coated HSS is the classic carbide imposter — same gold color, fraction of the value.
New: Explore the Ironcrest Copper Resource Center — grades, markets, identification guides, and interactive tools.
HOW SELLING WORKS
Three steps to an offer.
Material review
We review what the material is, its condition and quantity, and whether it fits a direct purchase.
Receive an offer
For qualifying material, we discuss a direct purchase offer and the next steps.