Nail Gripper Dies

Relink.Tools supplies carbide gripper dies for the nail machines listed below, to the machine model or to your drawing. The machine model is the key: it fixes the die's outside dimensions, so give us the model and the wire size and we can quote.

Construction	Carbide insert in a steel body, or a solid die, depending on the machine
Replaceable inserts	Round inserts with one, two or three wire positions; square inserts with one wire position
Groove	Made to the wire diameter and shank you name
Rotary-type machines	Inserts for die-wheel and knife-ring machines are supplied separately — see the note on Enkotec below

Category: Nail Making Tooling

A nail gripper die is the pair of dies in a nail making machine that clamps the wire while the nail is formed. On each stroke the wire is fed forward, the two gripper dies close on it, and the header punch strikes the projecting end and upsets it into the nail head against the face of the dies. The cutters then form the point and part the nail from the wire, the dies open, and the cycle repeats. The grooves in the die faces hold the wire, so they take the wear: when the grip loosens, heads come out off-centre or the shank is marked, and the dies are changed.

Overview

Where gripper dies sit in nail production

Drawn wire comes off the coil into the nail machine, which grips, heads and points it in one cycle. Smooth-shank nails go on to polishing; ring-shank and screw-shank nails are threaded first on a planetary threading machine — see planetary dies. On the nail machine itself the wear parts are the gripper dies, the cutters and the header punch; we supply all three, plus the diamond wheels used to regrind them. The full range is on the nail making tooling page.

Specifications

Gripper die types

Working material	Tungsten carbide. YG20C is the grade most widely used for nail tooling: tough enough for the heading blow, hard enough to hold the groove
Construction	Carbide insert in a steel body, or a solid die, depending on the machine
Replaceable inserts	Round inserts with one, two or three wire positions; square inserts with one wire position
Groove	Made to the wire diameter and shank you name
Rotary-type machines	Inserts for die-wheel and knife-ring machines are supplied separately — see the note on Enkotec below
Made to drawing	Yes, for machines not listed

Outside dimensions follow the machine model and are confirmed on the order.

Compatible machines

Which nail machines do these dies fit?

Gripper dies are available for these machines:

Maker	Models
Wafios	N, S and DS series, including N80 and N90
Kovopol	THA
Tanisaka	MTG
Vitari	VR
Z94 type	Z94 series
Zeus	Zeus series
Moroni	Moroni series
Chinese high-speed machines	X90, X130B, X150B

Enkotec. Enkotec machines form the nail on a rotary principle rather than with a reciprocating punch, and their tooling is not interchangeable with the machines above. We supply Enkotec tooling too; name the machine model so it is quoted separately.

Two things to know before you order:

Similar size does not mean interchangeable. Dies for two makes can look alike and measure almost the same and still not fit: a Wafios die will not run in a Kovopol machine. Order by the machine model, not by the die you have in your hand.
Not on the list? Send a drawing or a sample dimension sheet and we will confirm whether we can supply it.

The machine and brand names above are used only to identify compatibility. Relink.Tools supplies tooling, not the machines.

FAQ

Which nail machines do you supply gripper dies for?

Wafios N, S and DS series, Kovopol THA, Tanisaka MTG, Vitari VR, Z94-type machines, Zeus, Moroni, and the Chinese high-speed models X90, X130B and X150B. Enkotec tooling is supplied as well and quoted separately. For other machines, send a drawing.

Can I use a Wafios die on a Kovopol machine?

No. The two can look alike and measure almost the same, but they are not interchangeable. Always order by the machine model.

What do you need from me to quote?

The machine make and model, the wire diameter, the nail type (smooth, ring or screw shank), and the quantity. If the machine is not on our list, add a drawing of the die.

What carbide grade is used?

YG20C is the grade most widely used for nail gripper dies and cutters. It has enough cobalt to take the heading blow without chipping and still holds the groove. If your line needs something different, tell us what you run now.

Do you also supply the cutters and punches?

Yes — nail cutters and header punches for the same machines, and the diamond wheels for regrinding them. See nail making tooling.

What is the lead time?

Typically about 15 days, confirmed by item and quantity.