Quality & Certfications

Standard Horse Nail has been making consistent and high quality woodruff keys since 1907. Our unique method of mass production is faster and more efficient than any other traditional production method. We are an ISO 9001:2015 certified company and are a Tier 1 automotive supplier registered and operating in conformance to IATF 16949:2016 requirements.


We offer standard, non-rok, hi-pro and metric woodruff keys. All of our products make it to our customers stress free — you buy it, we ship it, on time and accurately.

Woodruff keys are machined metal fasteners used to transfer torque from a shaft to gears where tight tolerances and functionality are vital. They are precisely a fail-safe device to ensure that the key breaks before the gears do, cutting replacement costs down significantly.

Woodruff keys are used in lawn and garden equipment, automobiles, trucks, pumps, electric motors, agricultural equipment and other heavy equipment. They are used more often than machine keys in automated assemblies — such as automotive — because they are easier to feed and maintain tight tolerances.

Stanho imperial woodruff keys are made in all standard sizes. Carbon steel keys are made from cold drawn SAE-1035 steel. Alloy keys are made from SAE-8630 steel and heat treated to Rockwell “C” 40–50. Standard metric woodruff keys are provided in SAE 1045 steel and manufactured to DIN, JIS, EN and ISO standards.