A method of sintering carbides has been evolved that permits fabrication of dense, strong pieces having accurate dimensions and containing no residual binder metal. To aid in sintering, a small percentage of a binder such as cobalt or nickel, or their oxides, is added, but this is later removed by volatilization during the high‐temperature vacuum sintering operation. The method has been applied to tungsten carbide, tantalum carbide, and columbium carbide. The good mechanical properties of the products are cited as evidence for the carbide‐skeleton theory advanced to account for the high strength of cemented carbi