We buy tungsten carbide inserts, end mills, drills, brazed tooling, and grinding sludge from machine shops, manufacturers, and tool distributors across Illinois.
CNC machine shops, tool and die shops, manufacturers, distributors, and plant maintenance teams across Illinois — including Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria.
Send photos of inserts, tooling, and box labels, the approximate weight, your city, and whether the lot is sorted or mixed.
Illinois is one of the nation's top manufacturing states — Chicago-area industry, Rockford machinery, Peoria heavy equipment, steel and refining downstate, and food processing and logistics statewide. Demolition, plant upgrades, and electrical projects across Illinois generate steady copper, carbide, and electrical surplus. Machine shops and manufacturers across Illinois generate carbide scrap every day — most of it worth far more than steel prices. Ironcrest reviews carbide lots of every size.
Carbide is dense and only weakly magnetic — a magnet check and a weight check separate most carbide from steel and high-speed steel quickly. Keep ceramics out of the carbide drum. Mixed or contaminated lots get downgraded, so sorting at the source protects your price.
Spread inserts, end mills, and drills so markings are visible. Include box labels for new or unused tooling and a scale reference for the lot. Tell us the source — CNC shop, tool crib cleanout, distributor overstock, or plant closure.
Small and mid-size carbide lots ship to us from anywhere in Illinois. Email photos first so we know what is coming, then pack the dense material in a sturdy box with your contact information inside.
Also selling other material in Illinois? We buy copper wire and cable and used electrical equipment across the state.
Start with photos. Spread your inserts, end mills, or drills where markings are visible and email them to [email protected] with the approximate weight and your city. Include box labels for new or unused tooling. We review every submission personally — no forms, no automated quotes, no obligation.
We price carbide on current tungsten market conditions and the form and condition of your material. New boxed inserts, quality end mills, and clean sorted lots price differently than mixed shop scrap, which is why sorting at the source pays for itself. Public per-pound prices are not posted; every offer reflects today’s market for your specific lot.
For Illinois sellers, Ironcrest is local. Machine shops across Chicagoland and northern Illinois — including Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Aurora, and Joliet — can arrange drop-off or pickup for larger lots, and our mail-in program covers smaller quantities statewide. Send photos first and we will confirm the best option for your lot.
We buy from sellers in Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Aurora, and Joliet and throughout Illinois — CNC machine shops, tool and die shops, manufacturers, distributors, and plant maintenance teams.
We evaluate carbide inserts, end mills, drills, reamers, brazed tooling, saw tips, wear parts, and grinding sludge or swarf. Send clear photos, the approximate weight, and whether the material is sorted or mixed.
Email photos of your carbide to [email protected] first. We confirm what we can take and how to pack it, you ship the box to us, and we pay after receipt and evaluation. It works from anywhere in Illinois — no minimum shop size.
Yes, but sorted lots earn better pricing. Keep high-speed steel, plain steel, and ceramic inserts out of the carbide. If you are unsure what you have, send photos and we will help you sort it before you ship.
Yes. Grinding sludge, swarf, and dust have recoverable tungsten value. Tell us how it was collected and keep it separate from coolants, oils, and other shop waste as much as practical.
Send photos and the approximate weight. We price each lot from current market conditions — public per-pound prices are not posted. Ironcrest is based in Rolling Meadows, in the Chicago area. We coordinate local pickup for qualified lots across Chicagoland and northern Illinois, and arrange freight for larger downstate opportunities. Send photos with your city or ZIP code and we will confirm the best way to move the material.
Have carbide inserts, end mills, or shop scrap to sell in Illinois? Send photos, approximate weight, and your location to [email protected] or call 312-880-8174 for today’s price.
Industrial equipment can be worth more intact than as scrap. Clear photos and nameplates help determine whether resale, component recovery or commodity recovery is the best path.
Photograph the material, nameplates and quantity, then send them through the quote form, by email or by phone.
We review what the material is, its condition and quantity, and whether it fits a direct purchase.
For qualifying material, we discuss a direct purchase offer and the next steps.