FAQ — Tungsten Carbide Scrap Buying & Cutting Tools

Contact us via WhatsApp or the contact form. Share photos, estimated weight and scrap type (solid plate, swarf, sludge etc.). We'll send a price quote within 24 hours. Once agreed, we offer free door-to-door collection across Türkiye (above minimum tonnage).

We buy all tungsten-carbide-bearing scrap: solid carbide plates, milling inserts, drill bits, mould-mill scrap, carbide swarf, carbide powder, carbide sludge, welded diamond tools, PCD scrap, drilling bits, carbide rings. We also process HSS (high-speed steel) and cobalt-carbide scrap.

XRF (X-ray fluorescence) spectrometry analyses metal composition in seconds. It reveals the percentage of tungsten, cobalt, iron, chromium, nickel and other elements. Since carbide scrap value is driven primarily by tungsten content, XRF analysis is the foundation of accurate pricing. Bolelli Metal performs free XRF analysis on every incoming batch.

Price is built from four factors: (1) tungsten content (measured by XRF), (2) cobalt ratio, (3) contamination level, (4) live APT (Ammonium Paratungstate) market price. We calculate transparently against Metal Bulletin (London) and Asian Metal references. Read our pricing guide for details.

Within Türkiye we offer free door-to-door pickup for any batch above 500 kg. For smaller lots, freight is deducted from the purchase price or you can ship to us. All pricing is transparent — no hidden fees.

Our buying operation is currently focused on Türkiye. If you have scrap abroad, we can refer you to our trusted European partners. On the sales side — for processed tungsten carbide concentrate — we export regularly to refineries in Europe, China, Japan and Taiwan.

Yes — send a drawing, sample or CAD file and we'll manufacture cutting tools in your required dimensions, geometry and coating. Standard lead time is 7-14 business days. Single-piece production is available. Send your drawing and we'll quote price and lead time within 24 hours.

We apply five main coatings: TiN, TiAlN, AlTiN, TiCN and DLC (diamond-like carbon). We recommend based on your workpiece material — TiN for mild steel, AlTiN for hardened steel, DLC for aluminium are the most common choices. For a detailed comparison see our coating guide.

Carbide (tungsten carbide) is 3-5× harder than HSS and withstands 2× the temperature (up to 1000°C). It cuts 3-10× faster and is ideal for CNC mass production. HSS (high-speed steel) is cheaper and preferred for manual machines and small-batch work. Detailed comparison in our carbide vs HSS guide.

Diamond tools (PCD and CVD) are used for non-ferrous hard materials: aluminium and alloys, copper, brass, composites (CFRP, GFRP), graphite, glass, ceramics, hard plastics (POM, PEEK), tungsten carbide, and hard stone. They are NOT suitable for ferrous materials like steel and cast iron — diamond reacts with carbon at high temperatures. Details in our diamond tool guide.

Yes — Bolelli Metal offers re-grinding and re-coating of used cutting tools. Typically we restore 85-95% of original performance at 30-50% of new-tool cost. Process: regrind → cleaning → strip old coating → apply new coating. Properly used tools can usually be re-coated 2-3 times.

Standard products ship from stock within 1-3 business days. Custom-manufactured tools typically take 7-14 business days. For carbide-scrap pickup we collect across Türkiye within 3-7 days of quote acceptance. Express production (3-5 days) is available for urgent orders — please ask in advance.

We export regularly to 25+ countries. Main target markets:

• Europe: Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium
• Asia: China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, India
• Other: USA, United Kingdom, Australia

We export both processed tungsten carbide concentrate and custom cutting tools. We manage shipping, insurance and customs end-to-end; you simply receive the goods.

For scrap purchases we pay cash / wire transfer within 1-3 business days of pickup. Once XRF analysis confirms the composition, the final price is set and payment is transferred. For cutting-tool orders the standard is 30% deposit — 70% before shipment, against a proforma invoice. 30-60 day payment terms are available for established corporate clients.

We manage all export logistics on a door-to-door basis (DAP / DDP). We work with our own customs broker and international logistics partners (DHL, DSV, Schenker). Insurance is included. The customer's only responsibility is the destination-port import customs (DAP terms) or nothing at all (DDP). Average transit: Europe 3-7 days, China/Japan 12-18 days, USA 8-14 days.