The collective term for the chips, shavings, and metallic dust created when cutting tools remove material from a workpiece. It accumulates rapidly during turning or milling and must be cleared to prevent tool damage or coolant blockages.
Heard on the job
Grab the shop vac and clean the swarf out of the enclosure before we set up the next job.
Insider tip
Long, stringy swarf is dangerous and indicates incorrect feeds and speeds; you want it breaking into small, manageable chips.
Also heard as
- chips
- turnings
- shavings
Related terms
Making chips
Shop phrase for machines actually cutting metal, the productive part of the day as opposed to setup.
Blue chips
Steel chips that come off straw to dark blue from heat, read as a sign of how hard a cut is running.
Bird's nest
A tangled wad of long, stringy chips wrapped around the tool, chuck or part on a lathe.