Whether in gray powder form as raw feed supply, as scrap or as tools, tungsten carbide is one of the most valuable metals, but many machine shops have it just lying around on their shelves.
One person’s waste is another’s valuable renewable resource.
If there’s one thing metalworkers can agree on, it’s “waste not, want not,” especially when it comes to tungsten carbide. Whether in gray powder form as raw feed supply, as scrap or as tools, tungsten carbide is one of the most valuable metals, but many machine shops have it just lying around on their shelves.
Tungsten carbide, or the combination of carbon and tungsten elements, has become increasingly popular because of its durability and malleability. It has a hardness second only to a diamond and a strength more intense than steel, but it can be easily molded into different shapes and forms. It is used for cutting and mining tools, mill products, surgical tools, sporting equipment and now even jewelry, particularly wedding bands.
These attributes make tungsten carbide scrap one of the best contenders for recycling. Doing so will help your company’s bottom line, advance your sustainability goals and protect U.S. manufacturers from volatile foreign prices (less than 10 percent of the world’s tungsten is found here).
Sound promising? Here are answers to some burning questions about tungsten carbide to help you start reaping its valuable benefits.
Where is tungsten carbide in machine shops?
Tungsten carbide is found in inserts, reamers, drills, boring bars, round tooling and end mills. It’s also in ballpoint pens, punches and dies, says Don Graham, manager of education and technical services at Seco Tools.
How much is tungsten carbide worth?
As a ballpark estimate, Tim Diehl, global carbide recycling manager at Kennametal, says it would take about two weeks for a machine shop with 10 tools to recycle a full, one-gallon paint pail of tungsten carbide. He says recyclers are paying machine shops $5 to $10 a pound for tungsten carbide recyclable metal this year.
What does recycling tungsten carbide do for the environment?
In addition to earning money, machine shops can also contribute to their environmental sustainability goals by recycling. Diehl says Kennametal’s recycling activities advance its corporate sustainability practices, which it plans to put in place throughout its international organization.
Why is it strategically important for companies to recycle tungsten carbide?
The price of tungsten can be volatile, Graham says. Because tungsten carbide also contains cobalt, which has had price fluctuations because of international conflicts, both cobalt and tungsten are recycled regularly in the United States. Companies refine tungsten into a powder form and use it to manufacture new products. Similarly, they remove cobalt from machine tools and reuse it industrially.
How can you separate tungsten carbide tools for recycling?
To learn how to identify and separate tungsten carbide inserts, reamers, drills, boring bars, round tooling and end mills from similar steel products for recycling, consider the following: Tungsten carbide is always going to be heavier than steel, and it has slightly magnetic properties. It’s also scratch-resistant and doesn’t rust.
Need to make connections for buying and selling carbide?
If you're selling scrap carbide or want to buy, you can post a message on our Forum or reply to another member. Logging in is easy, use your MSCdirect.com credentials. If you don't have an MSC account, you can register quickly and easily. Get started by visiting the Forum on carbide recycling here.
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Talk to Us!
I am Choi Min-gyu, CEO of Shin-sung Metal.
It is a company that exportscemented carbides to China and Europe from Korea.
I am contacting you to make thefirst meeting with your company about cemented carbides.
We can supply the insert filler 13ton, end mill filler 7ton every month.
It's about 200 tons per year.
We have insert filler 20 tons in stock.
I attach the company introduction letter to our company.
I will wait for your answer after reviewing it.
45I can buy any carbide quantity please let me know.
44I am Abdul Qadar from Texas I can supply 40-50 tons of carbide scrap a month, email me at abdulshaik@marosofts.us or abdulshaik5555@gmail.com call or what's up
+1-347-419-4561
48I will supply tungsten carbide scraps Sludge contact me if you want
38I'm Carlos, from Peru, South America. I'm owner of an mold maker shop, we use different types of tungsten carbide tools for all of our process. Anyone knows a company in South America who is buying tungsten Caribe? Or maybe some way to recycling this material in this Continent.
41The company I work with has a presence in South America. Please contact me if you still need help with carbide recovery.
km1605oh@gmail.com
Thanks
41i am interesting in buying tungsten carbide cutting tools in any quantity.
37Got carbide scrap
40Hi Brent. I can buy scrap(all forms...tooling, dust, swarf or sludge). Please shoot me an email to request a quote.
km1605oh@gmail.com
40Hi I have some steel I want to scrap thing is the tips are tungsten carbide I would really like to sell it for the price of tungsten carbide rather than the price of steel
33Torch will separate the carbfrom steel.
32Hi my Name is Ash. I am looking to but large quantities of carbide scrap. I can do shipping myself or through you. Could you please get back to me price/100kg or price/tonnes? I would really appreciate your assistance. Thank you. Have a great day
Stuffgrabs0@gmail.com
17I have alot of scrap Carbide . Inserts and end Mills. Who's paying most for it at the moment?
33i can buy any quantity of cutting tools
35I have about 700#'s. What is your current price your paying?
santehruniuk@yahoo.com
30I was wandering since im not a huge mechanic.. Anyway to get pictures to show the list of things yall listed to be carbide material would very much appreciate it
34Visitors can connect and share photos for selling/buying on the forum here: https://www.mscdirect.com/betterMRO/forums/manufacturing/shop-talk/carbi...
35I would like to chat with someone about some carbide i have, which are large end mills 100% carbide,small end mills 100%,drills but i have new and used do you give better prices on the new stuff by chance.
32Hi David,
Visitors can connect and share photos for selling/buying on the forum here: https://www.mscdirect.com/betterMRO/forums/manufacturing/shop-talk/carbi...
31Hi David,
I can buy all your carbide scraps. Please contact me at cathygeng2007@gmail.com
31i am interested in buying any quantity of tungsten carbide cutting tools.
please cont me on email. greentc786@yahoo.com or mob no 5197605000. javed khan
31We are looking for a supplier of tungsten carbide scrap with the monthly volume of 10-20 tons. Please contact me at cathygeng2007@gmail.com, we will quote you the most favorable price.
30tight
29I love it
34Have about 40-60lbs of carbide tools. Looking for a quote to sell off.
32Hi Kyle... you may also want to explore our community forums where other users have posted comments about buying scrap carbide. You can make connections there and even add another post. Here is the link: https://www.mscdirect.com/betterMRO/forums/manufacturing/shop-talk/carbide-recycling
30Hallo, I'm assist manager in KS company that first carbide scrap company in korea
Always, we have a lot of quantities of carbide scrap
we can supply w/c inserts and endmill total 20tons in 1 months
If anyone interested in our offer please contact us
Thank you
Mark(Assist manager in KS)
mobile:+821095338497
E-mail:mutt04@naver.com
29Join this group?
29Hi, thanks for visiting Better MRO! Be sure to post your info in our forum for Carbide Recyling as well, and connect with other interested sellers and buyers here: https://www.mscdirect.com/betterMRO/forums/manufacturing/shop-talk/carbide-recycling
29Where is your plant?
I have every month 500/ 1000 kg widia scrap
32I am interested to buy tungsten carbide inserts scrap good price because we sorting the metal for re use
Endmill and inserts both
31I m interested to buy all type of carbide inserts and Endmill scrap in good price.
we sorting for reuse
Tooloxmrkt@gmail.com
+91 9811325729. Whatsup same
32Hello, we are a mexican metal recycling company looking for clients interested in buying scrap, Tunsgten Carbide (drill and insert)
32Hello, I work for a metal recycling company, and I have 2 tons Tungsten Carbide (drills and insert).
33Hi Erika - Check out our Forums where there are many talking about buying and selling carbide
https://www.mscdirect.com/betterMRO/forums/manufacturing/shop-talk/carbi...
29Please provide us information like whatsapp or email
11I just want to comment that there are a lot of people in the forum who claim to be wanting to buy scrap. A lot of those people have yahoo and gmail addresses. I would be wary of anyone who is looking to buy something and they are using a gmail or yahoo address instead of a company address. There is a lot of fraud on the Internet. Some of these supposed buyers look sort of shady to me.
30Thank you for sharing that. We don't encourage posting of personal information on our website. The reply function works to enable 'community' discussions in a safe place before connecting offline to validate intent.
30Where can l recycle the inserts here in los angeles ca Where is the best place
32we need information carbide insert for recycable
30We need information abode recycle carbide inserts pls send information mail adress jaraque59@yahoo.com
30I need to buy carbide tips,inserts
33We have about 2000 pounds of carbide. Can you please let me know if you are interested.
Thanks,
Benito C.
33Hi, please email me if you're still interested in selling your carbide. I will also answer text 512-265-4193
30please let us know more details about materials please share some details
email us or whtsapp +919878775992
7I work with carbide tipped blades and have quite a bit of it, can that be sold or does it have to bigger to be worth recycling. They range from 2mm-4mm. Thanks !
30Hi, please email me if you still want to sell your carbide. I will also answer text 512-265-4193
30I buy any quantity of scrap metal let me know what you have dannylondonuk@yahoo.com
15I want high speed steel drill bits and carbide lots like endmill ,inserts , taps in a bulk every month
9We are looking for a buyer of carbide scrap. We have this material in large quantities and on a recurring basis every month and we want to establish a partnership. We would like to know how much you pay per kg. We are located in Brazil and can export this material to any country.
Whatsapp +5511978760317
Email contato@aalsampaioferramentas.ind.br
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