Author: Connor

When it comes to buying steel for bladesmithing, toolmaking, or fabrication, surface finish matters — not just for aesthetics, but for performance, ease of use, and downstream processing.

At NJ Steel Baron, we offer a variety of steel finishes to meet different needs. Three of the most common are:

• Hot Rolled
• Wide Belt Ground
• Precision Ground

Let’s break down what each of these finishes means and when you might want to choose one over the others.

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Hot Rolled Steel: Rugged and Cost-Effective

Hot Rolled steel is produced by rolling the steel at high temperatures — typically over 1700°F — which makes it easier to form and shape.

Key Features:

• Dark mill scale finish (oxidized layer from high-temp rolling)
• Thicker tolerances (less dimensionally precise)
• More affordable
• Ideal for forging, heavy grinding, or stock removal

Best for:

• Blacksmiths or knifemakers who will be forging their blades and removing scale anyway.
• Projects where tight dimensional accuracy is not required.
• Budget-conscious builds where finish isn’t a priority.

Keep in Mind:

The mill scale surface will need to be removed before finishing — typically by grinding, acid etching, or sandblasting.

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Wide Belt Ground Steel: Smooth and Ready to Work

Wide Belt Ground steel takes things a step further. After hot rolling, the steel is processed through a wide abrasive belt to remove the mill scale and give it a flatter, more uniform surface.

Key Features:

• Clean surface with mill scale removed
• Flatter than hot rolled, but not as precise as PG
• Saves you time in prepping for stock removal or layout
• Great value for money

Best for:

• Knifemakers using the stock removal method
• Those who want a clean surface to scribe, layout, or machine
• Anyone looking for a middle ground between hot rolled and PG steel

Finish Quality:

Not mirror-smooth, but much better than hot rolled. Slight surface marks may be present from the abrasive belt.

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Precision Ground Steel: Flat, Accurate, and Ready to Go

Precision Ground (PG) steel is the highest-quality surface finish we offer. It’s ground to tight thickness and flatness tolerances using high-precision machinery, leaving an extremely smooth, clean surface.

Key Features:

• Tightly controlled thickness
• Extremely flat and smooth
• Ready for precision machining or immediate use
• More expensive, but worth it for the accuracy

Best for:

• Makers who require precision and consistency
• Folder makers or toolmakers who need exact dimensions
• Customers who want a “ready-to-use” surface with minimal prep

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Quick Comparison Chart

Finish Type	Surface	Flatness	Tolerance	Prep Needed	Cost
Hot Rolled	Rough, scaly	Lowest	Loose	High	? Most Affordable
Wide Belt Ground	Smooth, clean	Moderate	Medium	Low	?? Mid-range
Precision Ground	Smoothest, polished	Highest	Tightest	Minimal	??? Highest

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Which One Should You Choose?

Here’s a quick rule of thumb:

• Forging your steel? ? Go with Hot Rolled
• Doing stock removal and want to save grinding time? ? Choose Wide Belt Ground
• Need a flat, precise surface for folders or machining? ? Use Precision Ground

Each finish has its place depending on the project, your tools, and how much time you want to spend on prep.

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Browse Our Steel Finishes

At NJ Steel Baron, we stock popular steels like 80CrV2, 52100, AEB-L, M390, and more — available in multiple finish types and thicknesses to match your needs.

Still unsure which finish is right for you? Don’t hesitate to contact us — we’re always happy to help you find the right steel for your next project.

Forge with purpose. Finish with precision.
— The NJ Steel Baron Team

At NJ Steel Baron, we’re proud to support makers, smiths, and steel lovers by giving back through our BaronBonus Points loyalty program. Whether you’re buying your first billet or restocking your forge, our rewards system helps you save on future orders — simply by doing what you already do: shopping for top-tier steel.

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What Are BaronBonus Points?

BaronBonus Points are our way of saying thank you for your loyalty. You earn points with every order placed on our website, and those points can later be used for store credit toward future purchases.

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How Do I Earn BaronBonus Points?

It’s simple:

1 BaronBonus Point for every $1 spent

So if you spend $300 on a steel order, you’ll receive 300 BaronBonus Points — no strings attached. Points are automatically tracked and added to your account after a successful purchase.

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Do BaronBonus Points Expire?

Yes — BaronBonus Points expire 365 days after they are earned.
Make sure to check your account regularly so you don’t lose any unused points!

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How Do I Redeem My Points?

BaronBonus Points can be redeemed at checkout. You’ll see a section titled “Apply loyalty discounts?” where you can enter how many points you want to use.

Here’s what you need to know before redeeming:

• Minimum redemption amount: 250 points
• Maximum redemption amount per order: 1000 points

For example:

• If you’ve earned 200 points, you won’t be able to use them just yet.
• If you’ve earned 1200 points, you’ll be able to redeem up to 1000 points on a single order and keep the rest for later.

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Pro Tips to Maximize Your BaronBonus Points

• Combine big purchases to rack up points faster.
• Redeem strategically — save them up for large orders to make the most of your discounts.
• Watch the calendar — use points before they expire after 365 days.

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Start Earning Today!

Whether you’re after high-end steels like M390, AEB-L, or 52100, your purchases now earn you points every step of the way.

Sign into your account, keep track of your BaronBonus balance, and redeem smart at checkout. The steel you buy today can help pay for the steel you need tomorrow.

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Questions? Our team is ready to help — reach out anytime!

Forge on. Earn more. Stay sharp.
— The NJ Steel Baron Team

If you’re running into an error when trying to log in to your NJ Steel Baron account, don’t worry — it’s a common issue with a simple fix.

Most login problems come down to one thing: account activation.

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Step 1: Have You Activated Your Account?

If you try logging in before activating your account, you’ll run into one of two errors depending on how you’re logging in.

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Error When Logging in With Username and Password

If you attempt to log in using your username and password without activating your account first, you’ll see this message:

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Error When Logging in With Email and Password

If you try logging in using your email and password without activation, you’ll see this different error:

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Step 2: Activate Your Account

To fix this, check your email inbox for a message like the one below. It’s the activation email we sent when you registered your account.

Open it, and click the activation link inside to confirm your account.

After clicking the link, you’ll be redirected back to NJ Steel Baron — and your account will be ready to use.

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Still Getting an Error?

If you’ve followed the activation steps and are still getting an error when logging in, just email us a screenshot of the error you’re receiving and we’ll help you out right away.

Contact: [email protected]

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Tip: Can’t Find the Activation Email?

Check your spam or promotions folder. Sometimes the activation email ends up there. If it’s nowhere to be found, try logging in again — our system will often resend it automatically if your account hasn’t been activated yet.

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Summary

• You must activate your account before logging in.
• Look for the activation email and click the link.
• Errors will appear if you log in before activation.
• Still stuck? Contact support and we’ll help fast.

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Thanks for being part of the NJ Steel Baron community. We’ve got your back — and your blades. ?
Happy forging!

— The NJ Steel Baron Team