shavings

Shavings are small, slender pieces of material produced when a larger workpiece is shaved away by cutting tools. They occur in woodworking, metalworking, plastics, and other manufacturing processes. The form of shavings ranges from curly ribbons and thin chips to long splinters, depending on the material, tooling, and cutting conditions.

Wood shavings are common byproducts of hand planing, turning, or milling wood. They vary in size and shape, from fine curls to broad chips. Practically useful as mulch, soil amendment, or animal bedding, they also serve as packing material or fuel in some settings. They can harbor moisture and fungal growth if not stored dry, and dry, fine shavings can be combustible, necessitating proper storage and dust control.

Metal shavings, or chips, arise from drilling, turning, milling, and grinding. They may be copper, steel, aluminum, or other alloys and can be coarse or finely dispersed. Because they are sharp and sometimes oily from coolant, handling requires gloves and eye protection. Chip waste is usually recycled as scrap metal; collect and segregate by material, remove tramp oils, and manage coolant waste according to regulations.

Plastic shavings come from machining plastics and can be reprocessed into pellets or other products. Environmental and safety concerns include static buildup, proper dust control, and recycling streams.

A note on terminology: 'sawdust' refers to fine powder, whereas 'shaving' describes larger pieces. The use of shavings varies by industry and region, but they are commonly treated as byproducts with potential secondary value when properly collected and processed.