Question 1

What is the average scrap recovery value for steel?

Accepted Answer

Carbon steel scrap recovers approximately 10–15% of raw material cost as scrap value. Stainless steel and high-value alloys can recover 30–50% due to their inherent metal value. Account for scrap handling and processing costs (typically 2–5% of scrap value) in your net scrap recovery calculation.

Question 2

How do I account for minimum order quantities in cost?

Accepted Answer

Material distributors charge premiums for quantities below their minimum order threshold. If your part uses less than the minimum, distribute the surplus material cost across the ordered quantity. For small lot jobs, material costs can be 40–50% higher than large production runs on a per-part basis.

Question 3

Does material certification add cost?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Material test reports (MTRs) and certifications typically add 5–15% to raw material cost. For critical aerospace, medical, or defense applications, certification is mandatory. For commercial jobs, specify 'no cert required' to save on material costs if the end use allows.
⚡ Calculated for Carbide-Tooling.com High-Performance Series. View Catalog →

Material	$/kg	Density
Mild Steel	$0.80	7.85
Stainless 304	$3.20	8.0
Aluminum 6061	$2.80	2.7
Titanium Gr5	$35.00	4.43

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