Need pointed in the right direction
Oct 12, 2010 9:27 PM
Joined: Oct 12, 2010
Points: 17
My current mattress is about 10 years old and is probably due for repalcedment.  I have a hard time sleeping sometimes, and don't always wake up refreshed.

So I visited a mattress store yesterday and spent about an hour trying just about every bed in the joint.  The one I liked the best was the low end Stearns & Foster in a plush.  Unfortunately, it was out of my price range.  The salesman brought down the price about 25% by using a "clearance" box spring, but I didn't give in.  I probably would have had he thrown in free delivery.  Decided to "sleep on it."

I had read a little bit before going to the store, and was trying to look for stuff like the number of coils and gauge of steel.  They didn't have much of that info.  I tried the Tempurpedic bed and thought it was nice, but out of my price range.  They had a few latex floor models for 50% off.  There was one that I liked that seemed a little firmer than the rest, and I think I could have been happy with it.  I liked the individual coils the best, but maybe I'm not used to latex or foam?

Anyways, I got home and started researching and found that the three-S's are frowned upon and basically scratched them off!  I've read through here and found recommendations to search for local mattress companies.  I found a few:

http://www.bowlesmattress.com/html/crown.htm http://indianamattresscompany.com/default.aspx http://www.holdermattress.com/ http://www.holderbedding.net/index.html

I can get to the places that carry those beds.. Should I try to find the firmest matress I can and buy toppers?  My initial thinking is a firm mattress from a local shop and getting the 2.5" memory foam topper from Sam's club - staying local in case I'm unhappy.  Find the lowest gauge steel?  Bonnell springs, or open?

I've read about the DIY mattress.. like FBM stuff.  That's not entirely unappealing.  Doing surgery is unappealing though, because I'm a litle clumsy ;) I'd run in to the problem of a foundation (I have a headboard, footboard, and side rails I'd like to keep) with the DIY stuff.  It's kinda scary for me to go this route since I can't try the foam or latex before I buy. I don't want to be completely stuck.

I'm 6'4" and about 240.. so a big guy. I sleep on my back and side.  Anyone care to poke me in a certain direction for further researching?  I'm (more than) a little confused right now.

Re: Need pointed in the right direction
Reply #16 Oct 14, 2010 9:27 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
Phoenix, just a couple small things I think I would touch on your last very lengthy (but good) post.

There are different methods for joining pocket coils together...mass produced ones are usually placed in polyester shells and glued together.  Your best pocket coils are tied together by hand and placed inside a breathable flexible cotton shell, these are also far less likely to migrate.  You can also nest them inline or in a honeycomb pattern. 

Bonnell springs are actually not the cheapest type of spring to make....continuous coils are by a significant margin.  This is actually why they were used in mattresses in the first place, was to cut cost...it is much faster to produce them because you can produce an entire row or column of springs before cutting wire.  A good quality bonnell spring or offset spring is actually more expensive to produce than a cheap pocket spring (even the ones made in the USA). 

This message was modified Oct 14, 2010 by budgy
Re: Need pointed in the right direction
Reply #17 Oct 14, 2010 9:45 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
Thanks a lot for the info. I had come to believe that bonnell coils were the cheapest so it's nice to know differently. Makes sense really.

And thanks especially for the info about the pocket coils. If I was going in the direction of springs it would almost certainly be pocket coils and for anyone going in that direction I think it would be really important to know how they were made since they can "go wrong" more easily than other types if they are not well designed and constructed.

From what I understand, the Simmons coils are untempered. Just to add to the information in this thread, what are your thoughts about untempered coils vs tempered coils.

Phoenix

Re: Need pointed in the right direction
Reply #18 Oct 14, 2010 9:51 PM
Joined: Oct 12, 2010
Points: 17
I'm going to check out Holder on Friday, and maybe check out the Bowles lineup over the weekend.

If I wanted to get a 3" or so latex topper, do the specs of something like the Bowles Tranquil II sound decent?  http://www.bowlesmattress.com/html/nightrest.htm 13.5 gauge 5 turn 390 count Bonell springs.  I've no idea if the cost is even close to being in my budget, just trying to apply what I've learned ;)

I'm also warming up to the idea of the DIY latex mattress.  I've read a few threads about it and it doesn't sound as overwhelming as it did at first.

Re: Need pointed in the right direction
Reply #19 Oct 14, 2010 10:25 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
Phoenix wrote:

Thanks a lot for the info. I had come to believe that bonnell coils were the cheapest so it's nice to know differently. Makes sense really.

And thanks especially for the info about the pocket coils. If I was going in the direction of springs it would almost certainly be pocket coils and for anyone going in that direction I think it would be really important to know how they were made since they can "go wrong" more easily than other types if they are not well designed and constructed.

From what I understand, the Simmons coils are untempered. Just to add to the information in this thread, what are your thoughts about untempered coils vs tempered coils.

Phoenix


Technically speaking Simmons pocket coils are tempered (hardened).  They have a high carbon content, anytime you add carbon to steel it becomes stronger (albeit also more brittle).  They are just not heat treated or electrically treated like the traditional tempering process.  Simmons pocket springs are made in house (atleast up until recently...maybe things have changed) so the coils get made to a 9 or 10" height and then get pre-compressed into an 8" pocket.  Most mass produced springs are made in China or in the USA but not in the same factory the finished mattresses are constructed, the springs are tempered, get compressed to less than 10% of the original height placed into sealed containers and shipped long distance on boat or train to their final warehouse destination where the coils are released and then used to build a mattress. 

In reality the tempering is likely an extra precaution due to the ridiculous abuse that the shipping methods cause to the steel.  I highly doubt the finished product is any better by the time it gets into the end users home.

Re: Need pointed in the right direction
Reply #22 Oct 15, 2010 11:44 AM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
That was just too funny.

I'm sorta embarassed to admit that I was the one who posted the link (laughing).

I did a search on "corsicana 2 sided" to get a reference price for the previous post and he was the first link that came up.

Think I'm gonna do a search on "mattress salesman of the year" and see what else I can learn.

Phoenix

Re: Need pointed in the right direction
Reply #23 Oct 15, 2010 12:25 PM
Joined: Oct 15, 2009
Points: 966
That guy is classic!  He made so many errors, that it was hard to keep track off.   My favorite is when he says that latex is made by a company called Talalay.  

If he is going to show the mattress, why doesn't he at least take the plastic off!

This message was modified Oct 15, 2010 by sandman
Re: Need pointed in the right direction
Reply #24 Oct 15, 2010 4:35 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
I actually had a good laugh watching all his videos...so did my co-workers :)
Re: Need pointed in the right direction
Reply #25 Oct 15, 2010 5:01 PM
Joined: Oct 13, 2009
Points: 156
This guy must of been a used car salesman before he got into the mattress business.  I had a good laugh watching him also.  I'd NEVER buy anything from a guy like that.

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