Drill Bit Recycling Guide: How Much Can You Get for Used PDC & Tricone Bits?

Stacked in a corner of the yard, used drill bits look like scrap. They are not. Retired tricone and PDC bits contain tungsten carbide inserts, PDC cutters, and steel bodies that processors actively buy. Drill bit recycling turns dead inventory into cash — but the price you get depends on factors most contractors never consider.

What a Used Bit Is Made Of

The steel body is worth something as scrap, but the high-value components are the tungsten carbide inserts pressed into every TCI cone and the PDC cutters brazed onto PDC bit blades. Even a heavily worn bit that no longer drills still carries most of its carbide mass, which is what recycling buyers actually pay for.

What Determines Scrap Value

• Tungsten carbide content — TCI cones and PDC cutters are the highest-value parts; total carbide weight matters more than cosmetic condition.
• Bit size and weight — larger bits carry more steel and more carbide.
• Cutting structure — TCI tricone and PDC pay more than plain mill-tooth (all-steel) bits.
• Wear and salvageability — bits in good dull condition can sometimes be reconditioned, which raises the offer versus a fully worn head.
• Current metal markets — tungsten and steel prices fluctuate, so timing affects the quote.

Tricone vs. PDC: Which Pays More?

A TCI tricone carries dozens of carbide inserts per cone, which is why it commands solid recycling value even after it has finished drilling the hole. Send your retired cones through our Tricone Drill Bit Recycling & Purchasing Program for inspection and an offer.

PDC bits contain both PDC cutters and matrix-body tungsten carbide, making them especially valuable in bulk. Rather than letting them stack up, route your used PDC heads through our Secondhand PDC Drill Bit Purchasing & Recycling Service.

Getting a Real Number

Exact scrap value is set after inspection, because wear, retained carbide, and cutter salvageability vary bit by bit. A fair buyer gives you an upfront offer based on photos and quantities, then arranges freight so you are not absorbing shipping logistics. It costs nothing to find out what your pile is worth.