Zinc-Plated Square Keys for Shafts & Hubs
Zinc plated keystock is square bar used to transmit torque between a keyed shaft and a hub such as a pulley, sprocket, gear, or coupling. The zinc finish offers light corrosion protection and a clean appearance for general machine building and maintenance work.
Square Cross-Section Sized to fit common shaft and hub keyways for rotary drive connections.
Zinc Plated Steel Economical carbon steel with a bright protective coating for indoor or covered service.
Cut-to-Fit Bars can be trimmed to length and chamfered for easier assembly.
Machinable Allows light facing, drilling, or custom chamfers as needed.
Size Coverage Standard widths to match common shaft sizes and hub keyways.
Maintenance Friendly Useful for retrofits, repairs, and new builds across shop equipment.
How to Select Zinc Plated Keystock
Match the bar to your keyway dimensions and operating conditions.
Measure the shaft and hub keyway width/depth; choose a keystock width that fits the keyways with proper clearance per your print/spec.
Select the length to span the hub’s keyway; leave allowance for end chamfers or radii.
Check fit/tolerance requirements (standard, slightly oversize/undersize if your process calls for it).
Confirm environment: zinc plated steel suits general service; consider stainless/solid steel alternatives for harsher exposure.
Plan any secondary operations (saw cut, deburr, chamfer) before final assembly.
Common Applications
Pulleys, sprockets, and timing hubs on keyed shafts
Gearboxes, couplings, and flywheels
Conveyors, mixers, pumps, and general machinery
Repair and retrofit of worn keyways
Installation Tips
Cut to length, deburr, and add small end chamfers for easier seating.
Seat the key flush in the shaft keyway; slide the hub on without forcing or galling.
Use proper set-screw or locking features in the hub to control axial movement.
Avoid mixing dissimilar metals where moisture is present; isolate with sleeves/washers if needed.
Inspect for fretting/wear during maintenance and replace keys showing deformation.
Related Power-Transmission Hardware
Keyed shafting and shaft collars
Set screws and retaining rings
Pulleys, sprockets, gears, and couplings
Broaches, keyway cutters, and deburring tools
Need a specific key size or custom cut? Request a quick quote and our team can help with sizing and lengths.