Send clear photos
Overview, close-ups, markings and storage.
Carbide / hard metal
Sell tungsten, carbide and hard-metal scrap
We buy tungsten, tungsten carbide, hard metal and relevant tooling residues, including inserts, solid-carbide drills and mills, pieces, blocks and sorted production residues. We assess Benelux lots and international enquiries by composition, sorting and attached material. Send clear photos, estimated weight and any markings for an initial price indication and assessment.
Maastricht region · Benelux & international
Lot forms
Which tungsten-carbide and hard-metal lots can you offer?
Clearly identified and sorted streams are easiest to assess: inserts, solid-carbide tools, mills, drills and carbide offcuts. Mixed tooling lots can also be submitted first using clear photos.
- Hard-metal inserts and tips
- Drills, mills and cutting tools
- Tungsten carbide / hard metal
- Pieces, blocks and production residues
- Sorted or mixed lots
Material & application
Tungsten carbide, hard metal and complete tooling: what matters
Industrial hard metal is commonly based on tungsten carbide with a metallic binder. It appears in indexable inserts, solid-carbide drills, milling cutters and other wear-resistant tools.
A complete tool may also include a steel shank, holder, braze or coating. Total tool weight therefore does not automatically equal the amount of recoverable carbide in the lot.
Identification
Separating carbide from steel, HSS and mixed tooling
For hard metal, weight alone is not enough. Binder material, coatings, contamination and mixing with other metals can be relevant. Markings, product information and indicative XRF can support initial identification.
Do not automatically place unknown cutting tools in ordinary steel scrap. Photos of cutting edges, tool form and markings can already provide useful context, while further identification may be appropriate when material is uncertain.
XRF as support for material identification
A handheld XRF analyser can provide an indicative elemental composition for many metals and alloys. This supports sorting and commercial assessment; where certified laboratory analysis is required, we discuss this in advance.
More about metal identification and XRF →Offer material
How to offer tungsten or carbide scrap
Include weight and location
Estimated weight and postcode help assess logistics.
Add material information
Certificates, grade, origin and part numbers when available.
We assess the next step
We advise what information, analysis or logistics are required.
Valuation
What determines the value of tungsten carbide and hard metal?
A generic carbide price per kilogram is not meaningful without seeing the actual lot. The real carbide content and the condition of the tooling are key.
Carbide content
How much of the total weight is actually hard metal or tungsten carbide.
Binder & composition
Carbide grades can differ in binder and overall composition.
Attached steel
Shanks, holders, brazed parts and other attached material affect the lot.
Sorting
Clean inserts and solid-carbide tooling differ from heavily mixed tooling streams.
Quantity & packing
Volume, storage and handling influence practical processing.
Current market
Demand for tungsten- and carbide-bearing material changes over time.
Practical questions
Practical questions about tungsten carbide
Is Widia the same as hard metal?
Widia is commonly used as a name for tungsten-carbide-based hard metal. The actual composition remains important for valuation.
Can I sell complete drills and milling cutters?
Yes. Send photos of the lot; steel shanks, holders and other attached materials are also considered.
Should carbide be separated from HSS and steel?
If you can identify the materials reliably, separation helps. If not, send photos and markings before risking incorrect sorting.
Are small carbide lots of interest?
Any lot can be submitted. Commercial and logistics feasibility depends on quality, quantity, sorting and location.
Related materials
Other specialist metals
Offer material
Have tungsten or carbide to sell?
Send overview photos, close-ups of the tooling, estimated weight and postcode. Tell us whether the lot consists of inserts, solid-carbide tools or mixed tooling.