More Raw Materials of a Grand Piano

Hi again,
 I didn't finish writing about the particularly important parts of the piano and their raw materials, so here you are. I'll be talking about the cast iron plate, the soundboard, the hammers and the case in this post.
The Cast Iron Plate
This is actually 180kg! Because it has such a high carbon content, it is able to take the unbelievably high tension from the strings. This sits in the belly of the piano and is usually spray painted a bronze colour.

The Case
The case is one of the most important parts of the piano, This is where the cast iron plate and the soundboard are fitted into. It is usually made from hardwood such as maple or spruce.
The Soundboard
The soundboard is known as the "soul" of the piano and is only made from sitka spruce. However in the Steinway company "only 20 % of the wood that is ordered is good enough to achieve the standard required for Steinway". Sitka spruce is usually found in Alaska and the North West. It is a tall evergreen and is perfect for the production of a soundboard. This is because a type of wood that is good at projecting the acoustics is needed.