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This could possibly be the worst possible prize. Raw tungsten isn’t actually that expensive. What’s expensive is working with it as it melts 3,410c (6,170f) isn’t very malleable and is heavy like really really heavy to move this block you will probably need larger equipment than standard industrial moving equipment, bigger trucks and loaders also you’ll need to get the city’s permission to haul it on the roads , that alone is probably going to cost more than the cube is worth you will then have to pay a monthly storage fee until someone wants to buy it. Shouldn’t be that long right? It’s a valuable metal… well good luck finding a company that works with tungsten outside of china, and you absolutely can not ship it. But let’s assume you find someone who wants it(at a considerable discount) well now you have to higher the specialized movers again.

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TriflingToad@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
but what if I want one 🥺

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- don@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
  too bad, no giant cube of tungsten 4 u
  
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- stupidcasey@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
  Then good news you can buy it! But you’ll have to commission it’s very specialized construction, and pay to have it shipped across seas… you know that thing I said you absolutely could not do, well with money all things are possible.
  
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captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
I wonder if there’s a foundry in the world with a crucible that can hold, melt, and pour that much tungsten? To make a 5 foot solid cube.

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jimbolauski@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
Rocket nozzles are commonly made of tungsten, there are more than a few manufacturers in the US. Drill bits can be made of tungsten carbide. Armor piercing weapons use tungsten too. All of these have industries in the US.

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- Wogi@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
  Drill bits are coated in tungsten carbide. Sometimes. There are a variety of coatings.
  
  The drill bits you’re buying at the big box store are high speed still with some kind of coating to help them last a little longer. The specialty drill bits you’re buying for working on metal are also HSS with a different coating and probably different tip geometry.
  
  End mills are milling/lathe inserts can be HSS or carbide, also with some tungsten coating. Importantly, these are sintered, and made out of dust.
  
  Tungsten carbide is waaaay too brittle to work as a drill bit.
  
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  - jimbolauski@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
    drillbitsusa.com/…/solid-carbide-drill-bits/
    
    You don’t use solid carbide drill bits with a hand drill but with mills and cnc machines.
    
    www.mcmaster.com/product/3723A51
    
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  - Machinist@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
    Like, no. All sorts of carbide bits, including drill bits.
    
    Lot of tungsten producers and recyclers in the US, kennemetal for instance. They would be happy to come get that cube, might have to crack it into smaller pieces.
    
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- crank0271@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
  Spoken like a true tungsten connoisseur.
  
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  - jimbolauski@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
    The company I worked for made tungsten nozzles, they had to be welded using atomic hydrogen welding. One day a bottle of hydrogen shows up and receiving rejected it, we had the supplier label it protium and it went right through.
    
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smokebuddy@lemmy.today ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
Don’t forget having to pay income tax on the original retail value of the cube (assuming this is USA where lottery and prizes are taxable gains)

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Deepus@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
Can you expand on why it can’t be shipped?

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- don@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
  The Catholic Church passed an edict worldwide banning the shipping of tungsten cubes larger than half a cubic meter in volume
  
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- CheezyWeezle@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
  That would violate the Treaty of Versailles
  
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- CybertoothTiger@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
  Real answer is that it’s obscenely heavy
  
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- Maalus@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
  Secret clause in the Molotov - Ribbentrop pact
  
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- Woovie@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
  It’d weigh 75 tons assuming that to be 5ft x 5ft x 5ft
  
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bitchkat@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
It looks like panels on a frame and not solid tungsten.

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