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Boards split carbide into round tools, inserts, wear parts, brazed tools and sludge, and price each one differently. Read which line your pieces actually fit.
Solid carbide · Rods & blanks · Solids only
What solid carbide rod and blanks are worth
Carbide scrap buyers post prices per pound, and they don't agree. On October 25, 2026 the published boards we checked ran from $8.50/lb to $29/lb, depending on the buyer, the form of the carbide and who pays freight. This page shows those numbers with their sources, explains the spread, and covers why an unused rod or blank can be worth more than its weight in scrap.
Published solid carbide scrap prices (checked Oct 25, 2026)
Each line is copied from the buyer's own page on the date shown. We picked the lines closest to solid carbide (round tools, solids, shapes) and left out inserts-only, sludge and swarf lines.
| Buyer | What the line covers | Published price | Terms shown on the page |
|---|---|---|---|
| ScrapMetalBuyers.com | Tungsten carbide solids: end mills, drills, solid rounds | $8.50/lb | "Prices updated regularly"; call for a confirmed quote |
| Rockaway Recycling (Rockaway, NJ) | Carbide inserts & shapes; separate lines for end mills and larger bits | $16.50/lb (shapes); $16.50–$19.50/lb (end mills, larger bits) | Prices assumed delivered to their yard; "85% tungsten minimum for higher pricing" |
| Ironcrest Industrial | Clean, sorted solid carbide end mills, drills, reamers (inserts at the same offer) | $18–$20/lb | Page updated October 2026 |
| Sampson Metal | Tungsten carbide drills & end mills; wear parts / solids | $28–$29/lb (drills, end mills); $25–$26/lb (wear parts / solids) | Picked up at the seller's location; their price page is dated 10/23/2026 |
Checked by MachineShopScrap on October 25, 2026. Prices change, and every buyer sets its own grading, minimums and freight terms. Check the linked page before you sell. Only one of these boards (ScrapMetalBuyers.com) names solid rounds in its line, and none lists unused blanks as stock. These are scrap and recycling prices.
Why the same carbide gets such different prices
The top published number above is more than three times the bottom one. That isn't one buyer being honest and the rest not. They are pricing different things.
Clean and sorted
Ironcrest's top number is for clean, sorted carbide only. Oil, coolant, steel and mixed streams pull a lot down. Rockaway lists mixed carbide with HSS at $0.10–$0.15/lb.
Freight
"Delivered to our yard" and "picked up at your location" are not the same deal. Count what it costs you to get the lot there.
Grade and volume
Tungsten content and lot size move the number. Rockaway ties its higher pricing to an 85% tungsten minimum and says larger quantities can get higher prices.
Why a usable rod or blank can be worth more than its $/lb
A scrap buyer pays for the tungsten because the piece is going to be reclaimed. A tool grinder or shop that needs that diameter pays for a piece it can still turn into a tool. If your rod or blank is still that piece, weight is the floor, not the ceiling.
What helps a rod or blank
- Length left. Enough to grind another tool from, not a stub.
- Known grade or brand. A label, box end or invoice that says what it is.
- Packaging or paperwork. Original tubes, boxes or pack slips.
- Clean and separated. Rods with rods, blanks with blanks, one size range per bag if you can.
What lowers it
- Coatings some buyers won't take as stock. Say what the coating is if you know.
- Steel shanks or brazing. That's no longer solid carbide. Boards price brazed tools lower.
- Coolant cake and grime that hide the surface and ends.
- Unknowns. Solid or tipped? Carbide or HSS? If we can't tell, it goes to ID hold or decline.
More on coated pieces, broken end mills and carbide mixed with HSS is in the solid carbide FAQ.
What we don't buy
Solids only. We decline these at intake, so please don't send them:
- Carbide inserts and insert tubs
- Carbide chips, swarf, grinding sludge or floor flake
- Turnings of any metal
- Mixed drums of "carbide-looking" tips, or carbide mixed with HSS and steel
Buyers like the boards above handle those streams. See also solids we don't accept.
Photo checklist for a carbide rod or blank lot
1. Length
A rod or blank next to a ruler or tape so length and diameter can be read.
2. End faces
A close-up of the ends. It shows solid carbide and any chips or cracks.
3. Labels
Box ends, tube labels, grade or brand marks, pack slips.
4. The whole lot
One wide shot, plus a rough piece count or weight.
How to get an offer on solid carbide
1. Sort
Rods and blanks apart from broken tools. Pull out anything tipped, brazed or unknown.
2. Photograph
Use the checklist above.
3. Submit
Use the sell form (material "Solid carbide", form "Solid carbide rod / blank"), or call/text 508-343-1219.
4. Review & offer
A person reviews it for reuse first, then makes an offer. See how we value.
Carbide value FAQ
What's in scope, inserts, coatings and mixed lots are covered on solid carbide.
What is solid carbide scrap worth per pound today?
On October 25, 2026, the published carbide prices we checked ran from $8.50/lb (ScrapMetalBuyers.com, solids including solid rounds) to $28–$29/lb (Sampson Metal, drills and end mills, picked up at the seller). Rockaway Recycling listed carbide shapes at $16.50/lb and end mills at $16.50–$19.50/lb delivered to its yard, and Ironcrest Industrial listed $18–$20/lb for clean, sorted end mills and drills. These are other buyers' numbers, they change often, and each one has its own terms. Check the source page before you sell.
Why do carbide buyers' prices differ so much?
Each board prices a different thing: the form of the carbide (inserts, round tools, wear parts, brazed tools), how clean and sorted it is, how much you have, and whether the price is delivered to their yard or picked up at your shop. Read the terms next to the number, not just the number.
Can an unused carbide rod or blank be sold as reusable stock?
It can be. A scrap price pays for the tungsten in the piece because it is going to be reclaimed. An unused rod or blank with real length left and a known grade or brand can still be ground into a tool, so a shop that needs that size may value it as stock. That is the lane we review first: reuse before melt. Worn or broken pieces past reuse are usually worth their scrap price.
Does MachineShopScrap post a carbide price per pound?
No. We do not publish a carbide rate card. A person reviews your photos and lot description and makes an offer. The prices on this page are other buyers' published numbers, shown so you can compare.
Should I sell my carbide to a scrap buyer or to you?
If it is worn or broken solid tooling and you want a quick per-pound price, a buyer with a published board may be the simplest route. If you have usable rods, blanks or remnant stock, send us photos first so it gets reviewed for reuse before it is sold by weight. We do not buy inserts, chips, swarf or sludge in any case.