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

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]

Some of these terms are

shavings

).

Wood swarf is discussed at sawdust.

Metal 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

Class D

(metal) fires.

When machining without coolant, swarf is usually very hot and can easily burn the machine operator. Machinists typically wear long pants, eye protection and other personal protective equipment for this reason.

Some 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

^ "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.
^ "Scrap Metal" (PDF). UK P&I Club. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.

[MelvilleChips-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" (PDF). UK P&I Club. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.

[1]

Metal swarf

See also

References