Send photos
Photograph the material, nameplates and quantity, then send them through the quote form, by email or by phone.
CARBIDE SELLER GUIDE
Selling Carbide Tooling: Inserts, End Mills & Drills
Not all carbide tooling is equal in the scrap market. Here is how buyers look at each tool type — and how to sort yours for the best return.
Carbide inserts.
Inserts are the cleanest carbide product: small, uniform, high tungsten content, no steel attached. Keep them as they are — no need to sort by grade or coating for scrap purposes. Even worn, chipped, and used-up inserts carry full value; the tungsten does not wear out. A coffee can of inserts is real money.
End mills.
Solid carbide end mills are top-tier scrap — but watch the coating trap. Gold TiN-coated end mills may be solid carbide underneath (valuable) or coated HSS (not). Test before you sort: weight and magnet do not lie. Keep solid carbide end mills separate from steel-shank and coated-HSS pieces.
Drills, reamers, and burrs.
Solid carbide drills and burrs grade with end mills. Carbide-tipped masonry drills and hole saws go in the brazed category — steel body, carbide tip. Small-diameter micro-tools are still solid carbide and still valuable; do not discard them for being small.
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.
Are coated end mills still carbide?
If the base metal is solid carbide under the coating, yes — coatings do not change the underlying material. Test with weight and magnet to confirm the base is carbide, not coated HSS.
Do I need to sort inserts by grade?
No. For scrap purposes, carbide inserts are carbide inserts — coatings and grades do not require separation. Keep them clean and dry.
Should I remove inserts from their holders?
The holders are steel — pull the inserts if it is quick, but do not spend an hour on it. We buy both; sorted inserts just price cleaner.
Are worn or chipped tools still worth selling?
Absolutely. Scrap carbide is valued for tungsten content, not cutting ability. A completely worn-out end mill is worth the same as a chipped one.
What about carbide saw blades?
Carbide-tipped saw blades are brazed carbide — valuable, but a separate category from solid tools. Keep them apart.
THE TYPES
Three tools, three products.
Inserts, end mills, and drills are all carbide — and buyers treat each type differently.
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.