MS turnings and borings scrap rate: machine-shop swarf price
Rates for mild steel turnings, CNC chips and cast iron borings from machine shops and auto component plants, and how to stop coolant and mixing from eating into your price.
Types of machining scrap
| Type | What it is | Where it prices |
|---|---|---|
| MS turnings (long) | Curly, springy swarf from lathes | Lower: very low density, hard to load |
| MS chips (short) | Short broken chips from CNC and milling | Better than long turnings |
| Cast iron borings | Fine grey-iron dust and chips | Priced on the iron rate, sold separately from MS |
| Alloy steel turnings | EN-series, tool and bearing steel swarf | Quoted by alloy, often above MS |
| Briquettes | Turnings pressed into dense blocks | Close to solid scrap rates |
What reduces your turnings price
- Coolant and oil. Wet swarf weighs more but buyers deduct for it. Let bins drain before lifting.
- Mixing grades. Cast iron borings, MS and alloy turnings mixed in one bin get priced as the lowest grade.
- Aluminium and brass chips mixed in. These are worth far more on their own, so keep separate bins.
- Rust and dirt from bins stored in the open.
For plants generating several tonnes a month, a fixed lifting schedule with an index-linked rate usually beats calling for quotes each time.
Questions we get asked
Why are turnings priced lower than solid steel?
Turnings are light and bulky, often carry coolant, and need processing before melting. Buyers pay less per kg than for solid HMS.
Should I keep cast iron borings separate?
Yes. Cast iron borings are a different material from MS turnings and are priced separately. Mixing them lowers the rate for both.
Do you lift turnings on a regular schedule?
Yes. We do weekly, fortnightly or monthly lifts for machine shops and component plants in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai.
Have this scrap at your site?
Send photos and an approximate weight on WhatsApp. We reply with a rate the same working day.