Following recycling efforts to save cost, energy and ecological damage, use of metal scrap is gaining importance nowadays. This necessitates looking into the possibility of using machining waste (chips/swarf) in place of costly raw metal powders for laser direct metal deposition. This paper illustrates the viability of laser metal deposition of carbon steel machining swarf with non standard particle size and shape. Particles of unprecedented size and shape have been deposited and the feasibility of using this kind of build material has been established following analysis of different outcome parameters including clad geometry, microstructure and other physical properties.