Knuckle plates are galvanised steel timber connectors with rows of teeth, or “knuckles”, punched and bent up from the plate itself. They are hammered straight into the timber, so no separate nails are needed. Builders use them to join wall frames on site, splice timber members and reinforce joints.
Linkworld supplies knuckle nail plates in G300 Z275 galvanised steel to hardware distributors and building suppliers in Australia and New Zealand. Plate size, thickness and tooth layout can be made to your drawing or sample, and we pack in bulk cartons or in your own branded boxes.
Knuckle Plate Specifications
| Specification | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Product | Knuckle nail plate with integral bent-up teeth |
| Material | G300 steel, Z275 galvanised |
| Common thickness | 1.0 mm |
| Common widths | Around 33 to 134 mm |
| Common lengths | Around 63 to 254 mm |
| Tooth layout | To drawing or sample |
| Fixing | Hammered in; no separate nails |
| Packing | Bulk cartons, own-brand boxes, buckets and small packs |
Other sizes and finishes can be made to drawing or sample.
Where Knuckle Nail Plates Are Used
- Wall frames joining frame sections on site
- Timber splices joining two lengths of timber end to end
- Joint reinforcement on corners and junctions in timber framing
- Timber boxes, bins and crates reinforcing corners in workshop assemblies
Knuckle Plates, Nail-On Plates and Truss Plates
A knuckle plate has its own teeth and is hammered in. A nail-on plate is a flat perforated plate fixed with separate nails. A truss nail plate is pressed into factory-made trusses with a press. The three look alike in a carton but are used differently, so keep them under separate item codes.
For structural joints, the plate size and number of plates should follow the building design.
Common Purchasing Mistakes
Ordering by plate size only. Two plates with the same width and length can have different tooth rows and spacing. Send a drawing or sample.
Calling every plate a “nail plate”. State whether you need knuckle plates, nail-on plates or truss plates.
Leaving out the coating. State G300 Z275 so the steel grade and zinc coating are clear.
Fixing packing after production. Agree the pack quantity and labels with the order, especially for retail packs.
What to Send with Your Enquiry
| Item | What to tell us |
|---|---|
| Size | Width, length and thickness; a drawing or sample for the tooth layout |
| Material | G300 Z275 galvanised steel or other specified material |
| Quantity | Quantity for each size |
| Packing | Bulk carton, own-brand box, bucket or small pack, with label details |
| Destination | Destination port |
Packing and Supply for Distributors
We pack knuckle plates in bulk cartons for trade distribution, or in your own branded boxes, buckets and small packs for retail. Each size can carry its own label. For customers who plan several deliveries through the year, we offer free warehouse storage and staged shipments.
Work With Linkworld
Linkworld has more than 20 years of fastener export experience and runs its own cold heading workshop. Our own QC team checks plate size, thickness, tooth form and coating in our inspection room before every shipment. We make stamped parts to drawing or sample, so custom plate sizes and tooth layouts are welcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are knuckle plates used for?
They are used to join and reinforce timber, for example wall frame connections, timber splices and corner reinforcement.
What is a knuckle nail plate?
It is a galvanised steel plate with teeth punched and bent up from the plate. The teeth are hammered into the timber, so no separate nails are needed.
What is the difference between a knuckle plate and a nail-on plate?
A knuckle plate has built-in teeth. A nail-on plate is a flat plate with holes that is fixed with separate nails.
What thickness are knuckle plates?
1.0 mm G300 Z275 galvanised steel is the common specification in Australia and New Zealand. Other thicknesses can be made to drawing.
Can you make custom knuckle plates?
Yes. Send a drawing or sample with the size, thickness and tooth layout you need.
Looking for knuckle plates in your own sizes or packs?
Send the sizes, quantity and packing you need through the enquiry form below, and our team will reply with the options that fit your range.
Send an Enquiry
Send a drawing, sample or clear reference photo. Add the quantity and application if available, and we can start from the information you already have.