Oxide layer in high carbon wire rods are not completely removed by the mechanical descaling process. Formation of hematite causes poor mechanical descaling whereas magnetite and wustite are found to be non-adherent oxides which can be more readily removed. Oxide formation at high temperature has been studied using Gleeble simulation and it is found that a high laying head temperature (LHT) followed by faster cooling reduces the formation of the hematite layer. Based on this observation, plant trails have been undertaken and a lower amount of adherent oxide has been observed.