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<h2 id="metal-swarf">Metal swarf</h2> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Metal_swarf/M7K3SXv5">Metal swarf</a></p> <p>Chips can be extremely sharp and they can cause serious <a href="/facts/Laceration/snv0h3Gj">injuries</a> if not handled correctly. It is not uncommon for chips flying off the <a href="/facts/Cutting_tool_(machining)/By7NvLuM">cutter</a> to be ejected with great force and to fly several yards. </p><p>Due to its high <a href="/facts/Surface_area/WNowzFCw">surface area</a>, swarf composed of some reactive metals can be highly flammable. Swarf may also <a href="/facts/Spontaneous_combustion/ULScfFt1">spontaneously combust</a>, especially if the swarf is coated with <a href="/facts/Cutting_oil/QNumvyqc">cutting oil</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> To extinguish swarf fires, a special <a href="/facts/Fire_extinguisher/Lh96vD2x">fire extinguisher</a> is needed, designed for fighting <a href="/facts/Fire_classes/Q40b6mgL">Class D</a> (metal) fires. </p><p>When machining without <a href="/facts/Coolant/531hqfUQ">coolant</a>, 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. </p><p>Some engineering materials such as <a href="/facts/Beryllium/dv295voP">beryllium</a> are hazardous when finely divided and appropriate measures should be taken to prevent exposure. </p><p>For ease of transport and handling, swarf may be compressed into <i>bricks</i>. Metal swarf can usually be <a href="/facts/Recycling/x9X7GAzz">recycled</a>. </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Particulates/RleGr5E6">Particulates</a></li></ul> Look up <i>swarf</i> in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"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. <a href="/wiki/Moby-Dick" target="_blank">/wiki/Moby-Dick</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Scrap Metal" (PDF). UK P&I Club. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190110184602/https://www.ukpandi.com/fileadmin/uploads/uk-pi/LP%20Documents/Carefully_to_Carry/C2C_Articles_2018/Scrap_Metal.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20190110184602/https://www.ukpandi.com/fileadmin/uploads/uk-pi/LP%20Documents/Carefully_to_Carry/C2C_Articles_2018/Scrap_Metal.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>