Free Scrap Tungsten Carbide Collection
Worn inserts, blunt end mills, old drill bits and TCT saw blades all contain tungsten carbide, one of the most valuable scrap metals around. Don’t let it go in the general bin. Tell us what you’ve got, and a licensed local collector will pick it up from your workshop or site.
Small bits. Big value. Keep them out of the bin.
Carbide scrap we collect
If it cut, drilled or machined something hard, there’s a good chance it’s carbide.
CNC inserts
Indexable turning and milling inserts
End mills
Solid carbide cutters and slot drills
Drill bits
Solid carbide, SDS and masonry bits
TCT saw blades
Tungsten carbide tipped blades
Router bits
Carbide-tipped bits from joinery
Rods & blanks
Offcuts and unused stock
Burrs
Rotary burrs and grinders
Wear parts
Dies, tips and wear plates
Is it carbide?
Answer three questions about your scrap.
Is it heavier than it looks?
Carbide is roughly twice as heavy as steel for its size.
Does a magnet only just stick, or not at all?
Carbide has only a slight magnetic pull. HSS and steel stick firmly.
Is it free of rust?
Carbide doesn’t rust easily. HSS and steel rust quickly.
Two tools that look alike, but aren’t
High-speed steel (HSS) tools look similar, but carbide is generally worth many times more.
Tungsten carbide
- WeightVery heavy for its size
- MagnetOnly a slight pull
- RustRarely rusts
- Made ofMainly tungsten and cobalt
- ValueHigh
High-speed steel (HSS)
- WeightLike normal steel
- MagnetSticks firmly
- RustRusts easily
- Made ofMostly iron
- ValueA little more than steel
Three tubs, not one
Sorting your scrap before collection keeps the carbide’s value up.
Inserts, end mills, bits, tips
Steel drills, taps and cutters
Steel, swarf and offcuts
Where carbide scrap piles up
Machine shops
Inserts, end mills and drills
Engineering firms
Tooling and wear parts
Builders
Worn SDS and masonry bits
Joiners
Router bits and TCT blades
Tool hire
Worn-out blades and bits
Tungsten is a critical mineral
Tungsten is on the UK government’s critical minerals list: important to the economy, but with a supply at risk. Recycling your old carbide keeps it in use.
Trades and workshops can also do digital waste transfer notes on the Scrap4Free app. See digital waste tracking 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What is tungsten carbide?
Tungsten carbide is a very hard material made mostly from tungsten and cobalt. It’s used for the cutting tips of drill bits, saw blades, router bits and machining inserts, because it stays sharp far longer than steel.
Is scrap carbide collection free?
Yes. Because tungsten carbide is a valuable scrap metal, local collectors are keen to collect it. Larger quantities may even be paid for, by bank transfer, as scrap metal can’t legally be paid for in cash in England, Wales or Scotland.
How can I tell carbide from HSS?
Carbide is much heavier than it looks, only slightly magnetic, and doesn’t rust easily. High-speed steel (HSS) is strongly magnetic and rusts. If you’re not sure, keep it separate and tell us on the form.
Should I mix carbide with other scrap?
No. Keep carbide in its own tub or bucket, separate from HSS, steel and swarf. Mixed loads are harder to sort and worth less.
Do you take TCT saw blades and masonry drill bits?
Yes. Tungsten carbide tipped (TCT) saw blades, SDS and masonry drill bits, and router bits all have carbide tips and can be collected.
How much carbide do I need for a collection?
There’s no fixed minimum. A tub from a small workshop or a few buckets from a machine shop can both be collected. Tell us roughly how much you have on the form.
Why does recycling carbide matter?
Tungsten is on the UK government’s critical minerals list, which means it’s important to the economy but its supply is at risk. Recycling carbide keeps tungsten in use.
Are the collectors licensed?
Collectors on Scrap4Free must hold a valid waste carrier registration, which we check against the public register. Scrap metal collectors also need a licence from their local council.
Got a tub of old carbide?
Tell us what you need collected. It takes less than 2 minutes.
Request a Collection