carbide rod for milling and drill bits

Transitioning Away from Carbide: Why High-Speed Steel Is Gaining Renewed Attention Amid the Tungsten Shortage

A Changing Tooling Landscape

For decades, cemented carbide tooling has been the default choice for high-production machining due to its extreme hardness and wear resistance. However, global supply disruptions and unprecedented price volatility in tungsten—the primary raw material in carbide—are forcing manufacturers to reevaluate long-standing material choices.

As tungsten supply tightens and costs rise, many shops are re-examining high-speed steel (HSS) as a practical and strategic alternative. While HSS was once considered a legacy material, modern HSS grades[conventional and Powder Metallurgy(PM) grades] and processing techniques make it a viable solution for many applications—especially in today’s uncertain raw material environment.

Understanding the Tungsten Supply Challenge

Tungsten is classified as a critical mineral by the United States and many allied nations due to its importance in defense, aerospace, electronics, and manufacturing. Global supply is highly concentrated, with China accounting for more than 80% of worldwide mining and processing capacity.

Since late 2024 and throughout 2025, China has implemented stricter export controls on tungsten products, including ammonium paratungstate (APT), the key intermediate used to produce tungsten carbide. These controls have resulted in:

  • Severe shortages of tungsten feedstock outside China
  • APT and tungsten carbide prices are more than doubling in some regions
  • Longer lead times and unpredictable availability for carbide tooling 

For manufacturers dependent on carbide tools, this volatility introduces real risks to cost stability, production planning, and customer commitments.

Why Carbide Is Especially Vulnerable

Cemented carbide tools typically contain 70–97% tungsten carbide, bonded with cobalt or nickel. This makes carbide tooling highly exposed to tungsten pricing and availability.

While carbide excels in high-speed, high-volume, and abrasive cutting environments, it also has drawbacks that are amplified during supply disruptions:

  • High and volatile raw material costs
  • Longer procurement lead times
  • Brittleness and susceptibility to chipping in interrupted cuts
  • Limited regrind and repair options compared to steel tools

As tungsten prices surged through 2025, many shops found that carbide tooling no longer delivered the cost-per-part advantages it once did.

High-Speed Steel: A Strategic Alternative

High-speed steel is an alloyed tool steel containing iron, carbon, and combinations of molybdenum, chromium, vanadium, and, in some grades, reduced or no tungsten. Unlike carbide, HSS relies on a broader and more diversified raw material base, making it less vulnerable to single-source supply shocks. Newer PM grades have been specifically designed as alternatives to tungsten carbide – PM M4, PM T15, and PM M48.

Key Advantages of HSS in the Current Market

1. Supply Chain Stability
HSS production is far less dependent on tungsten, and several grades (such as M1, M7, and M42) significantly reduce tungsten. This makes availability more predictable and pricing more stable.

2. Lower Tooling Cost Volatility
While HSS tools may wear faster than carbide in extreme conditions, their initial cost is substantially lower, and pricing has remained far more consistent during the tungsten shortage.

3. Superior Toughness and Shock Resistance
HSS outperforms carbide in interrupted cuts, forming operations, broaching, and applications with vibration or impact. This reduces tool breakage and unplanned downtime.

4. Ease of Regrinding and Repair
HSS tools can be sharpened and reconditioned multiple times, extending usable life and lowering total tooling spend—an increasingly important advantage as shops seek to control costs.

Where HSS Makes the Most Sense

Transitioning away from carbide does not mean abandoning performance. Many applications are already well-suited—or better suited—to modern HSS grades, including:

  • Drills, taps, and reamers
  • Broaches and form tools
  • Cold-forming tooling
  • Short-run or job-shop machining
  • Applications requiring 62–68 HRC heat-treated tooling after machining 

In these use cases, HSS often delivers a lower cost per part, even if cutting speeds are modestly reduced.

Performance vs. Economics: A Necessary Rebalance

Historically, carbide justified its cost through higher speeds and longer tool life. Today, the equation has changed. With tungsten prices elevated and supply constrained, manufacturers are increasingly prioritizing:

  • Predictable material costs
  • Tool availability and lead times
  • Risk reduction in production planning

HSS aligns well with these priorities, offering a balanced combination of performance, toughness, and economic resilience in a volatile market.

Conclusion: A Practical Path Forward

The global tungsten shortage is more than a temporary disruption—it is reshaping how manufacturers think about tooling materials. While carbide will remain essential for certain high-speed and abrasive applications, high-speed steel is re-emerging as a smart, strategic alternative for a wide range of tooling needs.

By selectively transitioning appropriate applications from carbide to HSS, manufacturers can:

  • Reduce exposure to tungsten price volatility
  • Improve supply chain reliability
  • Lower tooling costs without sacrificing performance

In today’s environment, flexibility and resilience matter as much as cutting speed—and high-speed steel is proving it still belongs at the center of modern manufacturing strategy. To evaluate your current tooling and determine which applications are best suited for a strategic transition to high-speed steel, contact Griggs Steel today to consult with our technical specialists.