Swarf

Swarf, also known as chips or by other process-specific names (such as turnings, filings, or shavings), are pieces of metal, wood, or plastic that are the debris or waste resulting from machining, woodworking, or similar subtractive (material-removing) manufacturing processes. Swarf or chips can be small particles (such as the gritty swarf from grinding metal or the sawdust from sawing or sanding wood); long, stringy tendrils (such as the springy chips from turning tough metals, or long shavings from whittling); slag-like waste (such as is produced within pipe during pipefitting work); or stone fragments and dust (as in masonry).[1]

This article is about the manufacturing waste. For the English band, see Swarf (band). For the archaic term for waste oil or grease, see Swarfega.
Various examples of swarf, including a block of compressed swarf

Some of these terms are mass nouns (such as swarf and sawdust) and some of them are count nouns (such as chips, filings, or shavings).

Wood swarf is discussed at sawdust.

Metal swarf
Main article: Metal swarf
Metal grinding produces grinding swarf.

Chips can be extremely sharp and they can cause serious injuries if not handled correctly. It is not uncommon for chips flying off the cutter to be ejected with great force and to fly several yards.

Due to its high surface area, swarf composed of some reactive metals can be highly flammable. Swarf may also spontaneously combust, especially if the swarf is coated with cutting oil.[2] To extinguish swarf fires, a special fire extinguisher is needed, designed for fighting Class D (metal) fires.

Some common engineering materials such as beryllium are hazardous when finely divided and appropriate measures should be taken to prevent exposure.

For ease of transport and handling, swarf may be compressed into bricks. Metal swarf can usually be recycled.

References
  1. "The universe is finished; the copestone is on, and the chips were carted off a million years ago." —Ishmael, in Moby-Dick, by Herman Melville.
  2. "Scrap metal (borings, shavings, turnings, cuttings, dross)" (PDF). Retrieved 10 January 2019.
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