CUSTOM FINISHED NORTH AMERICAN HARDWOODS
Metropolitan does all of our milling and finishing in our production facility in Minnesota. Metropolitan only uses water base finishes. Unlike lacquer finishes they will not yellow over time and they are safer for environment and our employees. Because all of our woods are made from select and better lumber, you can be assured you are getting the finest American made hardwood frames and moulding available today. The lumber we use is from renewable forests in the United States and Canada and are FSC Certified.
In order to make sure you get the finest quality finishes available, we finish our frames and moulding to order. And to further ensure the quality of our frames, they are finished after they are joined. Each frame or moulding is sprayed by hand so every inch of the frame is examined by one of our experienced employees.
FREE FINISHING CHIPS AVAILABLE CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR DETAILS 1-800-626-3139
MAPLE AND WOOD STAIN FINISH SELECTION
Maple is our most popular wood. It is valued by museums and fine art galleries for its neutral appearance. Metropolitan's clear and stain finishes are semi-transparent, allowing the grain of the wood to show.
MAPLE PAINTED FRAME COLOR SELECTION
ASH AND WOOD STAIN FINISH SELECTION
Ash wood is a very dense wood with a grain pattern that can complement or detract from the artwork. If the grain complements, it is a good choice because it is a less expensive wood option. Ash wood will vary greatly in color and is not recommended on the clear and pickled white finishes if consistency is important. It is most popular in our darker wood stains and charcoal and black finishes which will cover the inconsistencies.
CHERRY AND WOOD STAIN FINISH SELECTION
Cherry wood in its natural state has a light red color which makes the finish have a depth of color that cannot be achieved on other woods. The heartwood of cherry varies from rich red to reddish brown. In contrast, the sapwood is creamy white. Cherry will darken with age and on exposure to light. The wood is moderately heavy and hard. The clear water based finish is new and will look similar to the unfinished wood. Because of the variations from the heartwood and sapwood the grain and color can vary greatly.
WALNUT AND WOOD STAIN FINISH SELECTION
Walnut wood has a rich dark brown heartwood with a tan colored sapwood. Walnut wood is fairly soft and moderate in weight. It will lighten with age. The clear water based finish is new and will look similar to the unfinished wood. Darker finishes are often used to cover the color differences in the heart and sapwood. Walnut is the most expensive wood we carry.
POPLAR WOOD AND FINISH SELECTION
Poplar wood varies from light cream to yellowish brown, with occasional streaks of gray or green. Poplar wood is primarily used for painted or dark finished frames because of its color inconsistencies. Poplar wood typically has a straight, uniform grain, with a medium texture. Because Poplar is an inexpensive hardwood it is a good choice when price is a consideration. Colors tend to darken upon exposure to light.
