Abstract: Hot rolled round stock is fed in a first stage through a pair of rotating work rolls having a rough, rugulose concave surface that frictionally engages the surface of the stock to deform the surface of the stock by the application of pressure thereto and thereby dislodge substantially all the mill scale therefrom. The engagement of the work rolls with the stock provides positive drive to the stock to rotate the stock so that the stock advances in a spiral course without skidding through the work rolls to a secondary scale remover that includes a descaling machine for removing the remaining scale from the surface of the stock. A plurality of blast units within a chamber of the descaling machine directs a stream of abrasive particles upon the entire surface of the stock to dislodge the remaining scale therefrom and form a bar free of scale. The bar is advanced in a third stage to a rolling mill that includes a plurality of cross-rolling units in a series arrangement.