Why the Scrap Carbide Price Per Pound Varies So Much

Carbide values track the tungsten market, which moves. I publish current market ranges — by form — on my scrap carbide prices page, updated this month. The board shows what the market pays: typically $8–$15/lb for tungsten carbide. My number is different, and it is printed right here: $18–$20/lb — firm — for clean, sorted tungsten carbide inserts, end mills, and drills. Check the price board to see the gap, then text a photo to 312-880-8174 and I will confirm exactly where your lot lands.

1. Form — what shape it is in

Solid carbide (inserts, end mills, drills) sits at the top because it is nearly all recoverable tungsten. Brazed tooling runs lower because of its steel content. Sludge prices on contained tungsten — the actual metal inside the drum — which varies widely. Same market, different forms, different numbers.

2. Grade — what kind of carbide it is

Not all carbide has the same tungsten content. Some grades run richer than others, and coated inserts (the ones with gold, black, or blue coatings) test differently than uncoated. XRF testing tells us what is actually in the material.

3. Cleanliness — what is mixed in

Clean, sorted carbide prices at the top of its form. Oil, coolant, steel chips, rags, and mixed forms drag a lot down. Sorting before you sell is the cheapest raise you will ever give yourself.

4. Quantity — how much you have

Larger lots are more efficient to handle and test, which means a stronger per-pound number. A 55-gallon drum of clean inserts earns a better rate than a sandwich bag.

5. The market — when you sell

Tungsten prices move with global supply and demand — and the buyer boards move with them. That is exactly why my standing offer is printed in ink: $18–$20/lb — firm — for clean, sorted tungsten carbide inserts, end mills, and drills. The market half of the equation lives on my scrap carbide prices page; my half lives right here.

Text photos to 312-880-8174 with a rough weight. I grade the forms, estimate cleanliness and quantity, and give you today’s firm per-pound number — free, no obligation. When the lot arrives, it goes on a digital scale and gets XRF-verified; the number you accepted is the number you get paid. That is the whole process, and it is the reason I do not publish a buy price: your lot deserves to be graded, not guessed.

Full buying process at Sell Carbide Scrap. Sellers in Northwest Indiana — Gary, Hammond, Merrillville — are on my scheduled trips: see all service areas.

What is the scrap carbide price per pound today?

There are two numbers: the market’s and mine. The buyer boards pay $8–$15/lb; I pay $18–$20/lb — firm — for clean, sorted tungsten carbide inserts, end mills, and drills. Other forms and conditions get their own honest number. My scrap carbide prices page carries this month’s market ranges by form. For your firm number, text a photo of your actual lot to 312-880-8174.

Why do prices vary so much between sellers?

Because the material varies. Clean solid inserts and contaminated sludge are both "carbide scrap," but they contain very different amounts of tungsten. The grade follows the material, not the seller.

Do you pay more for large quantities?

Yes — larger lots earn a stronger per-pound number because they are more efficient to handle and test. Full drums of clean material get the best rates.

Are coated inserts worth less?

Coated inserts test differently than uncoated, and the coating factors into the grade. XRF testing tells us exactly what is there — send a photo and I will tell you how yours grades.

Why do you publish your buy prices?

Because I stand behind the number: $18–$20/lb — firm — for clean, sorted tungsten carbide inserts, end mills, and drills. The buyer boards pay $8–$15/lb, and my price board shows the market ranges to prove it. Your lot still gets graded on its actual form, grade, and condition — the standing offer is the number clean, sorted lots earn, and a photo of your pile confirms it.

How fast can I get a quote?

Text a photo to 312-880-8174 and I will get back to you fast with today’s firm number. No forms, no waiting.