Mixed Aluminum Turnings Scrap consists of aluminum chips, borings and swarf generated when machining two or more aluminum alloys. Common sources include CNC machine shops, automotive parts manufacturers, aerospace suppliers, metal fabricators and industrial equipment producers.
Under ReMA/ISRI scrap specifications, qualifying material is classified as Telic: Mixed Aluminum Borings and Turnings. Its recycling value depends on alloy composition, iron content, fines, retained cutting fluids, moisture and contamination. Proper sorting and handling are essential for maintaining material quality and obtaining accurate purchasing quotations.
Mixed Aluminum Turnings: Quick Facts
- Material category: Nonferrous aluminum scrap
- ReMA/ISRI trade code: Telic
- Official grade: Mixed Aluminum Borings and Turnings
- Alloy requirement: Two or more aluminum alloys
- Fines allowance: Material exceeding 3% fines through a 20-mesh screen is subject to deductions
- Iron limit: More than 10% iron does not constitute good delivery
- Other exclusions: Free magnesium, stainless steel and highly flammable cutting compounds
- Related grades: Teens (segregated turnings) and Thigh (aluminum grindings)
- Common sources: CNC machining, drilling, boring, turning and metal fabrication
- Typical buyers: Nonferrous processors, machining-scrap recyclers and secondary aluminum consumers
What Are Mixed Aluminum Turnings?
Mixed Aluminum Turnings are small pieces of aluminum removed from workpieces during machining operations. They may be curled, spiral-shaped, fragmented or irregular, depending on the cutting method and machining conditions.
The term mixed refers to the presence of two or more aluminum alloys within the scrap stream. For example, machining chips from different aluminum alloy workpieces may be combined into a mixed-aluminum load when a facility does not maintain separate alloy collection.
In industrial settings, this material may also be called aluminum chips, borings, machining chips or aluminum swarf.
Important distinction: Mixed Aluminum Turnings are not the same as clean solid aluminum, shredded aluminum, machining grindings or segregated single-alloy turnings. These materials have different commercial specifications and processing characteristics.
How Are Aluminum Turnings and Borings Generated?
Machining removes material from an aluminum workpiece to create a required shape, dimension or surface finish.
Common operations generating turnings and borings include:
- Turning: Removing material from a rotating workpiece using a cutting tool
- Drilling: Producing holes in aluminum components
- Boring: Enlarging or finishing existing holes
- Milling: Removing aluminum using rotating cutting tools
- CNC machining: Computer-controlled cutting of aluminum parts
- Industrial fabrication: Other cutting and machining operations that generate recoverable chips
The size and shape of the material depend on the alloy, cutting speed, feed rate, tooling, lubrication and machining conditions.
When collected separately from other metals and contaminants, suitable aluminum machining scrap can be supplied to secondary aluminum processors.
ReMA/ISRI Telic: Mixed Aluminum Borings and Turnings Specification
The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) maintains the ISRI Specifications used as reference descriptions in commercial recycled-material transactions.
Telic is the official trade code for Mixed Aluminum Borings and Turnings. It covers clean, uncorroded aluminum machining scrap consisting of two or more aluminum alloys.
Telic Quality and Contamination Requirements
The specification provides for deductions associated with:
- Fines exceeding 3% through a 20-mesh screen
- Dirt and unrelated debris
- Free iron contamination
- Oil and cutting-fluid residues
- Moisture
- Other nonmetallic contamination
Material That Does Not Constitute Good Delivery
Under the standard Telic specification, the following conditions are not acceptable as good delivery:
- Iron content exceeding 10%
- Free magnesium
- Stainless steel
- Highly flammable cutting compounds
ReMA also recommends that mixed turning shipments be traded with agreed maximum zinc, tin and magnesium contents to reduce potential disputes about alloy chemistry.
Trade specification note: The distinction between permitted deductions and material that does not constitute good delivery is important. Exceeding the 3% fines allowance can result in a deduction; it is not automatically the same rejection condition as iron exceeding 10%.
Telic vs. Teens vs. Thigh Aluminum Scrap
ReMA distinguishes mixed machining scrap from identified single-alloy turnings and aluminum grindings.
| Trade Code | Material | Main Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Telic | Mixed aluminum borings and turnings | Two or more alloys; specified deductions and exclusions |
| Teens | Segregated aluminum borings and turnings | One specified alloy; clean material and limited fines |
| Thigh | Aluminum grindings | Recovery basis or special buyer agreement |
Known single-alloy turnings can be more useful to certain aluminum processors because their composition is easier to predict and control.
However, neither alloy segregation nor a particular trade code guarantees a higher selling price. Buyers consider composition, recoverable metal, market conditions and processing requirements.
Why Should Aluminum Alloys Be Kept Separate?
Aluminum alloys contain different amounts of elements such as magnesium, silicon, copper and zinc. These differences affect mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and manufacturing applications.
When aluminum chips from several alloys are combined, the resulting chemistry becomes less predictable. This can limit the material's suitability for producing particular recycled aluminum alloys without additional processing or composition adjustment.
For machine shops working with known aluminum grades, collecting turnings separately at the machine or production cell can help preserve alloy identity.
What About 6061 Aluminum Turnings?
Aluminum 6061 is a widely used wrought aluminum alloy in the 6000 series.
Turnings generated entirely from documented 6061 material may be suitable for a segregated single-alloy purchasing category rather than mixed Telic scrap.
RecyclingMonster maintains a separate 6061 Aluminum Turning Scrap Prices page.
Do not combine known 6061 turnings with unidentified or mixed-aluminum chips before checking whether the receiving buyer maintains a separate purchasing grade.
Aluminum Turnings vs. Borings, Grindings and Solids
Aluminum Turnings
Turnings are chips or curled fragments generated by cutting tools, especially during turning operations. They vary in shape and size with the machining process.
Aluminum Borings
Borings are chips produced during boring and related hole-machining operations. They can be purchased with turnings when they meet the same alloy and quality requirements.
Aluminum Grindings
Grindings are produced by abrasive operations and can contain significantly finer particles. ReMA identifies Aluminum Grindings under the separate Thigh specification, with commercial terms based on recovery or special arrangements.
Aluminum Solids
Solid aluminum scrap includes suitable offcuts, bars, sheet, extrusions and other larger metal pieces. Solids can have different handling and recovery characteristics from machining chips because turnings have a greater surface area and may retain fluids or fine particles.
Grading tip: Do not combine grindings, turnings, solids and mixed shredded aluminum merely because all contain aluminum. Confirm the appropriate purchasing category first.
What Does the 3% Fines Allowance Mean?
Under the Telic specification, deductions apply to material containing more than 3% fines passing through a 20-mesh U.S. standard screen.
Fine particles are smaller than conventional machining chips and can behave differently during storage, material handling and remelting.
Excessive fines can affect recovery economics and may introduce additional dust-handling requirements.
Industrial buyers may use representative sampling and screening procedures to evaluate fines content. The method of measuring deductions should be agreed upon in advance.
How Does Iron Contamination Affect Mixed Aluminum Turnings?
Iron contamination can enter aluminum machining scrap when steel chips, fasteners or other ferrous components are mixed into collection containers.
Common causes include:
- Shared machining equipment processing several metals
- Steel turnings mixed with aluminum chips
- Tooling fragments or metal debris
- Improperly cleaned containers
- Mixed workshop collection systems
Free iron is subject to deductions, and more than 10% iron does not constitute good delivery under Telic.
A magnet may help detect conventional ferrous contamination, but it cannot identify aluminum alloy chemistry or every foreign material.
Industrial generators should use appropriate segregation and verification procedures, especially when processing aluminum and steel within the same facility.
Why Do Oil, Cutting Fluids and Moisture Matter?
Machining often uses cutting fluids to lubricate and cool tools and workpieces. These fluids may remain on aluminum chips after machining.
Retained fluids can add nonmetal weight, complicate transportation and affect downstream recycling.
Oil and Cutting Fluids
The Telic specification provides for deductions associated with oil. Highly flammable cutting compounds are not acceptable as good delivery.
Commercial generators should manage cutting fluids using appropriate industrial practices rather than discharging them into drains or ordinary waste streams.
Moisture
Moisture is also subject to deductions under Telic. Wet metal scrap can create serious hazards during high-temperature processing.
Turnings should be stored and shipped according to the receiving facility's agreed moisture and packaging requirements.
Industrial Fluid Recovery
Suitable machining facilities may use controlled draining, filtration, centrifuging or other industrial systems to manage cutting fluids and prepare metal scrap.
Any processing method should account for the fluid type, equipment, workplace safety and waste-management requirements.
What About Magnesium, Zinc and Tin in Aluminum Turnings?
Different aluminum alloys contain controlled amounts of magnesium, zinc, copper, silicon and other alloying elements.
Free magnesium refers to separate magnesium material. It is different from magnesium intentionally alloyed into an aluminum product.
Telic does not allow free magnesium as good delivery, but aluminum alloys containing magnesium are not automatically excluded solely because magnesium is present in their chemistry.
ReMA recommends establishing definite maximum zinc, tin and magnesium levels between buyers and sellers to avoid disputes over alloy composition.
For substantial commercial loads, mill records, known machining alloys, representative sampling or suitable chemical analysis can support accurate material classification.
Are Aluminum Turnings a Fire or Explosion Hazard?
Finely divided aluminum can present combustible-dust hazards under certain conditions. Machining scrap may also contain oils, cutting fluids and other materials that influence fire risk.
Facilities handling aluminum chips and fines should evaluate:
- Combustible-metal dust generation and accumulation
- Metalworking-fluid hazards
- Collection and storage conditions
- Moisture and wet scrap entering high-temperature processing
- Appropriate housekeeping and dust-control systems
- Worker training and emergency procedures
Workers should not use uncontrolled grinding, burning or informal melting methods to prepare turnings for scrap sale.
Industrial receiving and remelting facilities must follow applicable safety procedures, including controls for moisture, contamination and combustible metal particles.
Common Sources of Mixed Aluminum Turnings Scrap
Mixed aluminum turnings are generated across industries that machine aluminum components.
- CNC machine shops: Chips produced during turning, milling and drilling
- Automotive suppliers: Machining scrap from aluminum components
- Aerospace manufacturers: Scrap generated when machining different aluminum alloys
- Metal fabricators: Turning and drilling residues
- Industrial equipment manufacturers: Aluminum machining chips and borings
- Tool and die shops: Aluminum chips from tooling and component production
- Contract machining businesses: Mixed production scrap from multiple customer jobs
Shops processing one known alloy at a time may be able to collect a separate Teens-grade stream instead of mixing all turnings together.
Mixed Aluminum Turnings Scrap Prices
Mixed Aluminum Turnings Scrap prices reflect the value of recoverable aluminum and the costs of handling, sorting, preparing and remelting the material.
Buying prices can differ from those for clean solid aluminum because machining chips may contain retained cutting fluids, moisture, foreign metals, fines and multiple alloys.
What Affects the Buying Price?
- Alloy composition: Mixed versus identified single-alloy chips
- Iron contamination: Free iron content and compliance with Telic requirements
- Fines: The proportion passing through the specified screen
- Oil and moisture: Retained fluids and associated deductions
- Metal chemistry: Zinc, tin and magnesium levels where relevant
- Scrap quality: Oxidation, dirt and other contamination
- Quantity: Shipment size and consistency
- Market conditions: Aluminum prices and demand for secondary metal
- Location: Regional processor access, freight and collection costs
There is no universal price relationship between mixed aluminum turnings and clean aluminum solids. Compare actual grade-specific purchasing terms rather than assuming a fixed discount.
Available Mixed Aluminum Turnings Scrap Prices
Review the available RecyclingMonster price records below. Always verify the material grade, observation date, location, currency and unit before comparing quotations.
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Visit Mixed Aluminum Turnings Scrap Prices for dedicated records. You can also compare Aluminum Turning Scrap Prices, 6061 Aluminum Turning Scrap Prices and the broader Aluminum Scrap Price Database.
These price categories are not interchangeable. Historical yard observations should not be presented as guaranteed current prices.
How to Sort and Prepare Mixed Aluminum Turnings for Sale
Good preparation begins at the machine or production area, before different metal streams become mixed.
- Separate ferrous and nonferrous chips: Keep aluminum turnings away from steel and stainless steel scrap.
- Maintain alloy segregation: Collect known single-alloy turnings separately where practical.
- Keep grindings separate: Do not blend Thigh-type material into Telic without buyer agreement.
- Control cutting-fluid residues: Follow appropriate industrial practices and purchaser requirements.
- Manage moisture: Protect stored material from unnecessary water exposure.
- Control fines: Avoid introducing excessive fine particles into a turnings shipment.
- Prevent contamination: Keep dirt, loose foreign metals and unrelated waste out of collection containers.
- Identify possible free magnesium: Segregate suspect material for qualified assessment.
- Document known alloys: Preserve machining and material records for commercial shipments.
- Confirm terms: Obtain written grading, testing, weighing and deduction requirements from the buyer.
Operational tip: Dedicated collection bins for different machining operations can reduce cross-contamination and help preserve the value of identified aluminum alloys.
How Are Mixed Aluminum Turnings Recycled?
Suitable aluminum turnings can be recovered as secondary aluminum feedstock through controlled industrial processing.
A commercial recycling process may include:
- Receiving and inspection: Material is weighed, sampled and graded.
- Alloy and contamination assessment: Composition, iron content, fines and fluid residues are evaluated.
- Preparation: Suitable processing methods manage moisture, metalworking fluids and foreign materials.
- Material separation: Ferrous and other unwanted components are removed where required.
- Charging preparation: Chips are prepared for the receiving facility's selected melting process.
- Melting and recovery: Accepted feedstock is processed under controlled industrial conditions.
- Alloy adjustment: Recovered aluminum chemistry is controlled for downstream specifications.
- Product manufacturing: Suitable secondary aluminum enters new metal products.
Not all processors use the same sequence or equipment. Mixed-alloy chips may be directed to recovery routes different from those used for identified single-alloy material.
Where Can You Sell Mixed Aluminum Turnings?
Mixed aluminum turnings may be purchased by nonferrous scrap yards, specialized machining-scrap processors and aluminum recycling companies equipped to manage oily, wet or fine metal scrap.
Not every scrap yard accepts machining chips. Some facilities impose specific restrictions on retained fluids, minimum quantities, fines or alloy composition.
yards
Browse Turnings Recycling Centers or use RecyclingMonster's Recycle an Item directory, which includes Aluminum - Turnings as a searchable material.
For broader research, consult the Metal Recycling Centers Directory.
Directory listings do not guarantee a facility currently purchases Telic-grade mixed aluminum turnings. Confirm its specific material acceptance, preparation requirements and commercial terms before delivery.
Bulk Mixed Aluminum Turnings: Commercial Selling Requirements
Machine shops, automotive suppliers, aerospace manufacturers and contract machining businesses can generate substantial quantities of aluminum turnings through ongoing production.
For regular or bulk shipments, buyers and sellers should confirm:
- Acceptance under the Telic specification
- Whether segregated Teens material is purchased separately
- Maximum permitted iron content
- Fines sampling and deduction procedures
- Oil, coolant and moisture requirements
- Free-magnesium and stainless steel exclusions
- Maximum zinc, tin and magnesium chemistry limits
- Known alloy documentation or testing requirements
- Container type, loading and collection arrangements
- Minimum quantities and scheduled pickup availability
- Price basis, currency and weighing units
- Transportation and processing deductions
- Inspection, rejection and settlement procedures
Commercial agreements should also establish responsibility for managing cutting fluids and other residues. Collection services may be available for qualifying loads, but free pickup or a higher rate is not guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mixed Aluminum Turnings
What is the ReMA/ISRI code for Mixed Aluminum Turnings?
Telic is the trade code for clean, uncorroded aluminum borings and turnings consisting of two or more aluminum alloys.
What is the difference between Telic and Teens?
Telic covers mixed-alloy aluminum turnings. Teens covers aluminum borings and turnings made from one specified alloy.
How much iron is allowed in Mixed Aluminum Turnings?
Free iron is subject to deductions. Material exceeding 10% iron does not constitute good delivery under the standard Telic specification.
What is the 3% fines allowance?
Under Telic, material containing more than 3% fines passing through a 20-mesh screen is subject to deductions.
How much are Mixed Aluminum Turnings worth per pound?
Prices vary by alloy composition, contamination, fines, oil, moisture, quantity, location and buyer. Check dated grade-specific records before comparing quotations.
Explore More Aluminum Scrap and Recycling Resources
Research other machining scrap grades, compare reported aluminum prices and locate potential processors through RecyclingMonster.
Material information and safety notice: Aluminum machining scrap may present combustible-dust, fire and molten-metal processing hazards. Trade grades, contamination limits, prices and recycler acceptance vary. ReMA/ISRI terminology is provided for educational reference. Final purchasing and handling requirements depend on applicable regulations and the buyer-seller agreement.