IRONCRESTINDUSTRIALINDUSTRIAL SURPLUS BUYERS
NATIONWIDE CARBIDE PURCHASING

SELL FROM ANYWHEREMAIL IN CARBIDE SCRAP

Have carbide inserts, end mills, drills or old machinist tooling sitting in a drawer, bucket, garage or tool room? Ironcrest reviews small collections and commercial quantities from sellers across the United States.

Small Quantities WelcomePhoto Review FirstNationwideShipping Instructions
PLATE No. 012 TUNGSTEN CARBIDE INSERT — TYPICAL FORM SCALE 2:1 SHEET 1 OF 1WC-Co · ISO K20AA12.70 SQ.4.761CUTTING EDGE2MOUNTING BORE3CHIP BREAKER4CLEARANCE FACEFIG. 1 — INDEXABLE INSERT, SQUARE, NEGATIVE RAKE (TYPICAL) WE BUY
PLATE No. 012
WHAT YOU CAN SUBMIT

Carbide from one drawer to a full shop cleanout

  • Loose or packaged tungsten-carbide inserts
  • Solid-carbide end mills, drills, reamers and cutters
  • Carbide rods, blanks, dies, punches and wear parts
  • Broken, dull or rejected carbide tooling
  • Old machinist collections and inherited tooling
  • Recurring machine-shop carbide scrap

Keep identifiable, unused or boxed tooling separate from broken scrap. It may deserve an evaluation beyond its commodity value.

START BEFORE YOU SHIP

Request a review in three simple steps

  • 1. SEND PHOTOS — Show the overall quantity plus representative pieces, labels and boxes.
  • 2. ADD DETAILS — Include approximate weight, your city and state, and whether the tooling is new, used or broken.
  • 3. WAIT FOR INSTRUCTIONS — Ironcrest will confirm whether mailing, pickup or another arrangement makes sense.

Do not mail material without receiving current instructions first.

Upload photos and request instructions →

SMALL OR LARGE

A few pounds can still be worth reviewing.

Ironcrest does not ignore small carbide sellers. Today’s garage collection can also lead to a retired machinist, former shop owner, estate or recurring machine-shop relationship.

SEND PHOTOS
HOW MAIL-IN WORKS

Sell carbide scrap by mail in six straightforward steps.

Mail-in carbide is designed for sellers who are not local to the Chicago area, or who have quantities too small to justify a freight pickup. The process starts with photos, not with a box in the mail.

Step 1: Send photos and details

Photograph your carbide material: the overall quantity plus close-ups of representative pieces, labels, and boxes. Include an approximate weight, your city and state, and whether the tooling is new, used, or broken. Email everything to [email protected] or use the contact form.

Step 2: Receive a review and instructions

Ironcrest reviews your photos and confirms whether mail-in makes sense for your material. If it does, you will receive current shipping instructions including the destination address, packaging guidance, and what to include with your shipment.

Step 3: Package your material

Follow the packaging instructions below. Carbide is extremely dense, so proper packaging matters more than it does for ordinary shipments.

Step 4: Ship your carbide

Ship to the address provided in your instructions using a tracked service. Keep your tracking number. USPS Priority Mail, UPS, and FedEx Ground all handle carbide shipments routinely when packaged properly.

Step 5: Material is received and verified

When your shipment arrives, the material is checked against your photos and description. Weight is verified and the contents are confirmed.

Step 6: Payment is arranged

After verification, payment terms discussed during the review process are completed. Do not ship any material before receiving current instructions. Shipping without confirmation can delay or complicate your transaction.

PACKAGING INSTRUCTIONS

How to package carbide for safe shipment.

Carbide is one of the densest materials you can ship. A shoebox-sized container of inserts can weigh 30 to 50 pounds. Packaging that works for ordinary items will fail for carbide.

Choose the right box

  • Use a sturdy corrugated box, preferably double-wall for heavier lots
  • Small, compact boxes are better than large ones; they are easier to handle and less likely to burst
  • Do not use padded envelopes or poly mailers; carbide will tear through them
  • For very heavy lots, consider a USPS Flat Rate box, which handles weight well at a predictable cost

Protect the contents

  • Wrap loose inserts, end mills, and drills in paper, bubble wrap, or foam so pieces do not shift in transit
  • Keep manufacturer boxes intact; do not dump new inserts loose
  • Fill empty space with packing material so nothing rattles
  • Separate new or boxed tooling from loose scrap within the package

Seal and label

  • Tape all seams securely with heavy-duty packing tape
  • Reinforce the bottom of the box; this is where failures happen
  • Write the approximate weight on the outside of the box
  • Include your return address clearly

What to include inside

  • Your full name, address, phone number, and email
  • A brief inventory list: approximate weight and types of carbide included
  • A reference to your photo review (your name and the date you sent photos is enough)

If anything about packaging is unclear, ask before you ship. A quick question now prevents a damaged or delayed shipment later.

WHO USES MAIL-IN

Mail-in carbide is built for these sellers.

Shops in the Chicago area with larger or recurring quantities may prefer direct pickup or a commercial carbide account. If you are unsure which path fits, send photos and we will recommend the right one. You can also review the full carbide buying overview or the carbide inserts page for material-specific guidance.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Mail-in carbide questions, answered.

How much does it cost to mail carbide?

Shipping cost depends on weight, box size, and distance. Carbide is heavy, so even a small box can cost more to ship than you expect. USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are popular for carbide because the price does not change with weight. Get a shipping quote from your carrier before deciding; for very small lots, confirm that the shipping cost makes sense relative to the material value.

Is there a minimum quantity for mail-in?

There is no strict minimum. A few pounds of inserts or a handful of end mills can be worth reviewing. That said, be realistic about shipping costs: mailing a single pound across the country may cost more than the material is worth. When in doubt, send photos first and we will give you an honest read on whether mailing makes sense.

How long does the mail-in process take?

After you send photos, review typically happens quickly. Once you ship, transit time depends on your carrier and distance. After your material arrives and is verified, payment is arranged per the terms discussed during review. The full cycle from first photos to completed transaction is usually a matter of days, not weeks, assuming prompt communication on both sides.

How do I get paid?

Payment terms are discussed during the photo review process, before you ship anything. We will confirm the payment method and timing so there are no surprises. Never ship material to any buyer without a clear, written understanding of how and when you will be paid.

What if my material is different from the photos?

Describe your material honestly in the first place and this is rarely an issue. If the received material differs materially from what was reviewed, we will contact you to discuss before proceeding. Accurate photos, honest weight estimates, and keeping non-carbide material out of the shipment prevent almost all discrepancies. When in doubt, include more photos rather than fewer.

Ready to start? Send photos for today’s price. Email [email protected] or call 312-880-8174 to request your mail-in review and shipping instructions.

HOW SELLING WORKS

Three steps to an offer.

01

Send photos

Photograph the material, nameplates and quantity, then send them through the quote form, by email or by phone.

02

Material review

We review what the material is, its condition and quantity, and whether it fits a direct purchase.

03

Receive an offer

For qualifying material, we discuss a direct purchase offer and the next steps.

CALLSEND PHOTOS FOR A PRICE