Table of contnents:
Introduction
Every second, somewhere in the world, a steel nail is driven into wood, fastening everything from tall buildings to backyard birdhouses. But how steel nails are made? While they may appear simple, these fasteners are the result of a fascinating story of precise engineering, metallurgical science, and industrial artistry.
From ancient blacksmithing to today’s high-speed production, the journey of a nail tells a story of innovation and precision. Today, high-speed nail production machines can churn out more than 2,000 nails every minute, turning simple steel wire into the billions of nails we rely on every year. In this guide, we explain how steel nails are made in modern factories, breaking down the full process into clear, understandable steps.
Also, you can quckly check this simplified infographic visualization for a better understanding of the processes involved.
Step 1: Raw Materials
Every steel nail is made from a deceptively simple ingredient: steel wire. But not just any steel will do. Most manufacturers stick with low-carbon steel—less than 0.3% carbon, or, in other words, steel grade SAE 1010. You should check out our article about “Steel Nails for Pallets,” where we briefly overview the steel grade system and explore where different steel grades are most commonly used in other industries.
❓ Why low-carbon steel is used? It offers the perfect balance between strength and flexibility.
Some manufacturers use galvanized steel wire from the get-go. That means it’s already coated in zinc, which protects the nail from rust. Others add protective coatings later on, depending on the nail’s final use—indoors or outdoors. In especially harsh environments, stainless steel products are the best option.
Step 2: Logistics & Inspection
The ordered raw materials arrive in two – three months period. An initial inspection must be conducted upon arrival in order to assess the materials’ condition and record the information for quality control purposes. The supplier must be notified right away of any inconsistencies or damages discovered during this examination so that they can be solved A.S.A.P. After passing inspection, the materials are kept in a specific location until they are prepared for delivery to the nail production facility.
📦 Reliable sourcing and strict inspection lead to stronger, longer-lasting steel nails.
Step 3: Storage
As soon as wire rods reach the final destination, they are stored in a specified area. The storage area covers 11,000 m² (118,403 sq. ft.) and is capable of holding up to 40,000 tons of raw material. This quantity is enough to fuel Litnaglis production for about 6 to 7 months. This allows uninterrupted manufacturing and order fulfillment.
Step 4: Wire Rod Processing
The wire rod diameter is too thick to produce steel nails right away, so it needs to be processed in order to start producing nails. Specialized cold drawing wire equipment is used to straighten kinks, polish the surface oxidation, and clean the wire rod.
𖦹 Cold wire drawing helps to improve the overall quality and strength of the wire.
Once the wire rod has been processed through the cold drawing equipment, it is reduced to the desired diameter for steel nail production. This process also helps to improve the overall quality and strength of the wire. After the wire rod has been successfully processed, it can then be fed into the nail-making machine to begin creating steel nails of various sizes and shapes.
Step 5: Steel Nail Production
A steel nail production process begins. The drawn wire coils get loaded onto nail production machinery drums.
First, the wire runs through straightening rollers. These rollers do the same job, removing any curves or kinks from the coiled wire.
The feeding mechanism keeps constant tension on the wire as it moves toward the cutting section. Too much tension and the wire snaps. Too little, and it buckles or feeds unevenly. Modern machines monitor this tension hundreds of times per second, making tiny adjustments to keep everything smooth.
In nail manufacturing machine settings, the nail length is set to cut wire into even and straight steel nails. The wire gets gripped firmly at one end while a powerful die comes down and smashes the protruding steel into a nail head.
🔨 The force applied for nail head forming is enormous—thousands of pounds per square inch applied in a fraction of a second.
The steel doesn’t break under this pressure; instead, it flows like thick honey, spreading outward to fill the head-shaped cavity in the die. Different nail types need different head shapes. A framing nail gets a flat, wide head that spreads the load across wood fibers. A finishing nail receives a small, rounded head that can be driven below the wood surface.
Then a special razor-sharp blade slices through wire at exactly the right moment, forming a nail point. For a standard 75mm (3-inch) nail, this cut has to happen with incredible precision—we’re talking about accuracy measured in fractions of millimeters.
The cutting happens while the wire is moving, and the whole process repeats over 15 times per second on high-speed machines. And that’s how we get our basic steel nail. Next step: coating and modifications.
Step 6: Modifications, Coatings & Collation
Modifications
We know that steel nails come in various types, sizes, coatings, and collations. In order to achieve these combinations, we need to process our already made nails a little bit further.
With the use of specialized equipment, steel nail shanks can be altered to create more specialized niche categories out of common nails. This process involves special rotary dies that shape the shank of the nail to a precise form. This level of customization allows for greater control and precision when working with nails in various construction and carpentry applications.
💪 Steel nail holding power is greatly increased by modifying the shank.
Different nail points are achieved during the initial nail manufacturing process, where specialized knives cut steel nails into different types of nail points: diamond, blunt, chisel, and others.
Coatings
Not all nails need extra surface treatment, but many do. For galvanized nails, this means a trip through a zinc coating process. The nails get cleaned and then either dipped in molten zinc or put through an electroplating bath that deposits a thin, uniform zinc layer.
Hot-dip galvanizing creates a thicker coating that lasts longer but costs more. Electroplating gives a thinner, more uniform coating that’s perfect for indoor applications. Both processes require careful temperature and timing control to get consistent results.
🌊 We highly recommend the use of stainless steel products for treated wood and in maritime environments.
Other treatments might include phosphate coatings for better paint adhesion and minimal oxidation protection or specialized coatings for marine environments where salt water would critically affect nails without protective coating. More detailed information about different types of coatings and their properties can be found in our other article, “Ultimate Galvanized Steel Nails Guide 2025“.
Collation
The last step in the manufacturing of steel nails is finally reached. In general, nails can be categorized into three types of nail collations: plastic, wire, and paper. Although each form has advantages and disadvantages, the primary determinant is the intended function of these nails. For example, Hi-Load Wire collated nails are only used in the pallet manufacturing industry, where nailing robots are using such coils for pallet production. Plastic strip and paper tape nails are mostly common in construction projects.
Bonus Step 7: Packaging & Logistics
Packaging
Once the nails are manufactured and quality-tested, they need to get from the factory floor to construction sites and hardware stores. This final step involves more strategy than you might expect, and the quality of packaging often determines whether nails arrive in perfect condition or as a rusty mess.
Quality packaging starts with moisture-resistant cardboard that won’t fall apart in humid conditions or during rough handling. Litnaglis uses triple-wall to five-layer-wall corrugated boxes—these might cost a few cents more, but they prevent costly damage during shipping. Interior packaging often includes moisture-absorbing packets that keep nails dry during long sea voyages or storage in damp warehouses.
Custom Packaging Options
Some customers want plain cardboard boxes to save money. Others prefer boxes printed with their company logo for resale or brand recognition. Custom graphics, text, and even special colors can be printed on packaging when orders are large enough to justify the setup costs.
Logistics
Getting nails from factory to customer involves careful planning. We offer door-to-door delivery, handling everything from loading at the factory to unloading at the customer’s location. Transportation options include sea freight for international orders, trucking for domestic shipments, and rail for long-distance bulk deliveries.
We work with well established logistic lines who understand how to handle construction materials. These logistics companies know that throwing boxes around damages products and relationships. They use proper equipment, train their crews in careful handling, and communicate clearly about delivery schedules.
🎁 The right packaging and delivery approach makes all the difference in customer satisfaction and repeat business.
Smart packaging and logistics turn a great product into a complete solution. The suppliers who invest in quality packaging and reliable logistics partnerships are the ones who build lasting relationships with their customers.
Conclusion
Steel nails are a crucial component in construction and manufacturing, yet many people overlook the intricate process involved in producing them. We hope that this article on “How Steel Nails Are Made” will help you better understand the processes involved. By breaking down each step of the manufacturing process, you will gain a deeper appreciation for the precision and skill required to create these simple yet essential fasteners.