The Finest Raw Materials Behind Every Piano
Pianos are not just beautiful to hear and see—they are masterpieces of craftsmanship, built from the highest-quality materials available.
Every material selected plays a critical role in both the appearance and the performance of the instrument.
Woods for Strength and Resonance
- Maple Wood:
Long fibers make maple ideal for crafting the rim of the piano, offering both strength and flexibility to support the immense tension inside the instrument. - Spruce Wood:
Spruce, known for its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, is used in the braces that help maintain the piano’s structural integrity over time.
Wood is also essential for making patterns for other parts of the piano, serving both functional and decorative purposes.
Metals for Endurance
- Cast Iron Plate:
The piano’s heavy cast iron plate absorbs the massive tension from hundreds of tightly stretched strings.
The plate must be incredibly strong yet minimally intrusive to allow the soundboard to vibrate freely. - Molten Iron Mixture:
Crafted from pig iron, combined with steel and scrap iron, the molten metal offers the perfect balance of strength and resilience for casting.
Specialty Materials
- Sand for Molds:
Sand, modified with bentonite clay and coal dust, is used to create detailed molds that shape the iron plate during casting. - Steel Wire for Strings:
The piano’s strings are made from high-tensile steel wire, produced in specialized mills to withstand the enormous tension and maintain perfect pitch.
Designing the Piano: The Role of Scale Engineers
Building a piano isn’t just about assembling parts—it’s a feat of advanced engineering.
What Is a Scale Engineer?
Scale engineers are specially trained experts who:
- Select the materials
- Design every structural element
- Calculate how each part interacts to create stability, sound quality, and durability.
Their work ensures that the piano not only sounds magnificent but can withstand decades—or even centuries—of environmental changes.
Balancing Tension and Stability
One of the most challenging aspects of piano design is managing string tension.
Each of the 220+ strings in a piano exerts around 160–200 pounds per square inch (11.2–14 kg per square cm) of tension.
That means the internal structure must support over 20 tons of pressure while still allowing the delicate soundboard to vibrate freely and project sound beautifully.
The Cast Iron Plate: A Critical Component
Supporting Immense Pressure
The cast iron plate plays a pivotal role by anchoring the tension of the strings while minimizing interference with the soundboard’s vibrations.
It must have:
- Maximum strength: To support tension
- Minimal mass: To prevent deadening the sound
This balance is one of the most significant engineering challenges in piano building.
Custom Design for Every Piano
No two piano plates are identical.
Each plate is custom-designed to:
- Match the string layout
- Support the placement of the bridges on the soundboard
- Allow for optimal vibration and sound projection
Holes are carefully placed along the plate’s curved side to:
- Reduce thermal stress during cooling
- Prevent cracking
- Let the soundboard resonate freely
These holes aren’t just decorative—they are critical to both the durability and tonal richness of the instrument.
The Process of Plate Design and Manufacturing
- Sketching:
The scale engineer first sketches a rough proposal for the plate based on the piano’s overall design. - Detailed Drawing:
The design is drawn precisely to scale, ensuring exact measurements. - Wood Pattern Creation:
A wooden model is built to finalize the shape, which is then used to create molds for casting the plate.
Craftsmanship Meets Engineering: Why Your Piano Deserves Professional Care
Understanding the meticulous craftsmanship and specialized engineering that goes into building a piano highlights why moving and storing one requires special expertise.
Pianos are not just heavy—they are intricate instruments made of finely tuned materials, sensitive to bumps, vibrations, and temperature changes.
At Keyboard Carriers, we understand the value and fragility of every piano we move.
Our expert team is equipped with the right skills and tools to protect your instrument’s structure and integrity during any move.
Contact Keyboard Carriers for Professional Piano Moving Services
If you need to move or store a piano in Denver, CO, or surrounding areas, trust the specialists who understand your instrument’s construction inside and out.
👉 Contact Keyboard Carriers Today for safe, professional piano moving and storage solutions!