Scrap metal questions, answered straight.

Where can I sell scrap carbide inserts near me?

Ironcrest Industrial Surplus buys scrap carbide inserts — new, used, worn, or broken — across the Chicago area and nationwide. You can drop material off, arrange a same-day Chicago pickup for larger lots, or mail in smaller quantities. Text or email a photo of what you have and you will get a price the same day in most cases.

Inserts are one of the most commonly sold forms of carbide scrap because machine shops go through them constantly. They do not need to be new or in original packaging — used and chipped inserts still carry real tungsten value. See what carbide Ironcrest buys for the full list.

How much is scrap carbide worth per pound?

I pay a firm $18–$20 a pound for clean, sorted tungsten carbide inserts, end mills, and drills — a standing offer, updated October 2026. Brazed tooling, grinding sludge, and mixed lots are quoted individually from photos. Send photos for your firm quote today.

How can I tell if a tool is carbide or just steel?

The fastest check is weight: solid tungsten carbide is about twice as dense as steel, so a carbide tool feels noticeably heavier than a same-size steel one. Next, check for manufacturer markings or part numbers — they identify the material definitively. A magnet helps too: carbide is typically non-magnetic, though steel shanks or brazing can show a weak pull.

Color and coatings are not reliable on their own — gold or dark coatings are microns thin and sit on both carbide and steel. When in doubt, photograph the markings and the whole tool and send them in; see the carbide identification guide for the full walkthrough.

What is the difference between tungsten carbide and high-speed steel for scrap value?

Tungsten carbide contains tungsten, a valuable traded metal, so it is bought per pound at real money. High-speed steel (often stamped HSS) is just a premium tool steel — it sells as ordinary steel scrap for a fraction of carbide's value. This is why a bucket that looks like "old drill bits" can be worth real money or almost nothing depending on what is actually in it.

Mixing HSS into a carbide lot drags the whole lot's value down, because every piece has to be separated and verified. Sort them apart before you sell — it directly raises your offer.

Do you buy broken or worn carbide inserts, or only new ones?

Ironcrest buys inserts in any condition — new, used, worn, chipped, or broken. The tungsten inside does not disappear when the cutting edge wears out, so a coffee can of dead inserts from a CNC mill still has genuine scrap value. Coatings like the gold TiN finish do not add or subtract value; they are only microns thick.

What matters more than condition is keeping inserts separated from steel, high-speed steel tools, and shop debris. A clean, dry lot of mixed used inserts will consistently earn a better offer than the same weight mixed with junk.

What is tungsten carbide, exactly?

Tungsten carbide is an extremely hard material made by fusing tungsten powder with carbon and a metal binder, usually cobalt. It is the stuff cutting tools are made from — the inserts, end mills, and drills that machine metal parts — because it stays sharp far longer than steel. When those tools wear out, the tungsten in them is recovered and recycled into new tools.

Only tungsten carbide carries this scrap value. Silicon carbide (used in grinding wheels and sandpaper) and chrome-carbide hardfacing are different materials with no comparable resale value — a common and costly mix-up for new sellers.

Why doesn't Ironcrest publish per-pound carbide prices?

Tungsten is a globally traded commodity, so any fixed number printed on a website goes stale — sometimes within days. Your lot's value also depends on grade, form, quantity, and sorting, so two buckets that look similar can price differently. Publishing one number would either be wrong tomorrow or so vague it would be useless.

The reliable way to know what your material is worth is to send photos and get today's price, quoted against current markets. Most quotes go out the same day the photos arrive.

How should I sort or package carbide before selling it?

Four simple steps raise your offer: pull out anything that is not carbide (high-speed steel, plain steel, packaging, coolant-soaked rags); group by form (inserts together, solid end mills and drills together, brazed tooling together, sludge separate); drain and dry everything, since moisture and oil are dead weight; and keep manufacturer markings readable instead of grinding them off.

For shipping, use a sturdy box or pail — carbide is heavy and will destroy a flimsy container. Weigh what you can (even a bathroom-scale photo works) and describe the mix honestly; accurate descriptions speed up your quote.

Can I mail in my carbide scrap?

Yes. Smaller lots that do not justify a pickup can be mailed in — pack the material securely in a sturdy box or pail, include your name, phone number, and a note describing the contents, and send photos ahead so the quote is ready when it arrives. Full instructions are on the mail-in carbide page.

Because carbide is dense, watch the weight: a small flat-rate box of inserts can weigh 20 pounds or more. For larger lots, a scheduled pickup or drop-off usually makes more economic sense than postage.

What types of copper wire are worth the most?

Bare bright copper — clean, uncoated, unalloyed wire thicker than a pencil lead — is the top grade, followed by #1 copper (clean tubing, busbar, and heavy wire) and then #2 (painted, soldered, or smaller-gauge material). Insulated wire is priced by how much copper is inside the jacket: thick, heavy cable like underground feeder pays far better than thin communication wire with mostly plastic.

Romex (the flat household wiring found in homes) and THHN building wire are the most common insulated types sellers bring in, and both are welcome in any quantity. The copper wire grades guide shows each grade with photos. For how prices are set, see how copper pricing works.

Who buys copper wire near me in the Chicago area?

Ironcrest Industrial Surplus buys copper wire and cable across Chicagoland — bare bright, #1, #2, insulated wire, Romex, busbar, and copper pipe — from electricians, demolition crews, contractors, and homeowners alike. There is no minimum amount: a bucket of cutoffs is as welcome as a truckload of demo wire.

Unlike a scrapyard line, you deal directly with the buyer — text a photo, get a number, then drop it off or schedule a same-day pickup. See selling copper to Ironcrest for details.

Do you buy copper from homeowners, or only from businesses?

Both. Homeowners bring in leftover Romex from remodels, old service panels, plumbing copper from repipes, and garage cleanouts. Electricians, demo crews, and contractors bring in job-site wire and tear-out material. If it is copper, the source does not matter — only the material and the weight.

The one requirement is legal ownership: Illinois requires a valid photo ID for scrap sales, and Ironcrest only buys material you own or are authorized to sell. Stolen material is never accepted, no exceptions.

How do I get a price for my scrap metal?

Send photos. Text or email clear pictures of the material — plus your estimated weight, your city, and whether it is a one-time cleanout or ongoing volume — to 312-880-8174 or [email protected]. Most quotes go out the same day the photos arrive, priced against that day's markets.

Good photos make good quotes: shoot in daylight, show the overall pile and close-ups of any markings, labels, or jacket printing, and include something for scale. There is no obligation — a quote is just a number until you say yes.

Do you pick up, or do I drop the material off?

Either. Many sellers prefer to drop material off, and that is welcome — message ahead so the quote and the scale are ready when you arrive. For larger lots, Ironcrest offers same-day pickup across the Chicago area: the pile is weighed on a digital scale in front of you and you are paid within 24\u201348 hours.

For sellers outside the Chicago area, Ironcrest travels nationwide for the right load, and smaller carbide lots can be mailed in. The right option depends on quantity and distance — ask when you send your photos.

How fast do I get paid?

Local pickups and drop-offs are paid within 24–48 hours of the material being weighed. That is the whole point of dealing direct instead of through a yard line or a broker chain. See how Ironcrest pays for the details.

Mail-in lots are paid promptly after the material arrives and is verified against the quoted description. If anything differs from the photos, you hear about it before anything is finalized — no surprises.

Is there a minimum amount of scrap you will buy?

No. A five-gallon bucket of carbide inserts, a coil of leftover Romex, a single panel — it all has value and it is all welcome. Small lots from homeowners and one-person shops are a normal part of the business, not an exception.

The economics of pickup vs. drop-off vs. mail-in do change with quantity, which is why sending photos first matters: it lets both sides pick the cheapest way to move the material before anyone drives anywhere.

Do you buy electrical panels, breakers, and transformers?

Yes. Ironcrest buys electrical surplus beyond wire and cable: circuit breakers, load centers and panels, switchgear, bus duct, transformers, motor controls, and related gear — new surplus, used, or pulled from demo and upgrades. Name-brand equipment (Square D, Siemens, ABB, Eaton, Cutler-Hammer) in clean condition is especially welcome.

Photograph the nameplates and any part numbers — that is what determines value. See selling electrical equipment for the full list.

What areas do you serve?

Ironcrest is based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and serves the full Chicago metro — same-day pickup across Chicagoland is the standard offer. For larger or higher-value loads, travel is nationwide: if the material justifies the trip, the truck rolls.

Smaller lots outside the pickup area are not stranded either: carbide can be mailed in, and photos plus an honest weight are enough to work out the best option for anything else. When in doubt, send the photos and ask.