Handguard is fine, barrel nut is not - JE Machine Tech 4 in MLOK Free Float Handguard with Barrel Nut

The handguard is very light (thin material), finished well, and looks fine.

The barrel nut, however, appears to have been salvaged from a body of water. It's missing about 40-50% of its original finish. It was coated/caked with black grit inside and out - like it had been used as a muzzle device for 200 rds of Wolf steel case.
The barrel nut also will not time right on 2 different guns, it is far enough away from seating correctly that The handguard cannot screw to it - The screw holes in the guard are right in between the screw holes in the nut.

Of course, this cannot be returned, and I knew that going in, but I've also never had a barrel nut that couldn't seat/time properly.

My only solution to use this is to get shims which will further the gap between the handguard and the upper. I'd rather just not use it at this point.

Also I'm painfully aware of the concept of one getting what they pay for, but this would have maybe been acceptable at $9.99.