latex toppers that have irregular spaced holes
Jan 15, 2010 2:23 PM
Joined: May 3, 2008
Points: 827
I was reading about FBM latex toppers that have irregular spaced holes.  Then when I received my latex from Overstock some of mine had irregular holes.   Then I saw a picture of foamsource (I think) and it showed some irregular spaced holes. How can that be if they use a waffle maker type machine that has the holes spaced properly?  Just curious, wondering how that happens.  I don't think it makes a difference on comfort, but wondered anyway.  Could it be Dunlop only does that because they process it differently?  I don't believe Talalay process does irregular holes form what I have seen.
Re: latex toppers that have irregular spaced holes
Reply #16 Jan 17, 2010 1:42 AM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
Leo3 wrote:


Hopefully you can take pics I would like to see Dunlop pics anyway.  Mine (some of them) have a shiny side and the other side is dull.


I too used to think that Dunlop had a certain "look" to the way the mold was formed, but someone told me that is not true, that sometimes Dunlop looks like Talalay.
Can you speak to this, Budgy? My guess would be that the Dunlop "process" and Talalay "process" could be done on various molds that may not look the same from one manufacturer to another, even though the process would be the same. True? (And I'm just guessing because I've only ever seen one piece of latex that I know was Dunlop.)
Re: latex toppers that have irregular spaced holes
Reply #17 Jan 17, 2010 2:22 AM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
the 'shiny' and smooth bits are really just from where the rubber would have been in direct contact with the mould, making all the cell walls at that point very uniform.  the 'dull' rough bits are really just from where it has been cut.  I think it would be pretty hard to tell for sure whether you are looking at dunlop or talalay latex by looking. and yeah there are definitely different pin arrangements being used sometimes even in the same factory for the same process. 
Re: latex toppers that have irregular spaced holes
Reply #18 Jan 17, 2010 9:14 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
Ok, here are a bunch of different photos.  These are also pictures of the 3 slabs I weighed in the other thread. The first one here is a 2" piece of firm natural Dunlop it is symettrical on the reverse side.



This next photo is of a 4" thick medium piece:



This next photo is the exact same piece of rubber but on the reverse side. 



Finally we got a our 2" soft piece Side A:



and side B of the same piece, note you can clearly see in this image that the holes do not go all the way through. (same thing with the 4 inch piece but cant really see it in the photo)

This message was modified Jan 17, 2010 by budgy
Re: latex toppers that have irregular spaced holes
Reply #19 Jan 17, 2010 9:25 PM
Joined: Aug 17, 2009
Points: 542
Why do the photos all have a piece of gauze over them? It is hard to really tell much do to the gauze.
This message was modified Jan 17, 2010 by eagle2
Re: latex toppers that have irregular spaced holes
Reply #20 Jan 17, 2010 9:29 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
they do it for a few reasons. 

#1, is actually something you have noticed with your own customizable latex mattress, latex tends to cling to itself , and this is not a good thing because it interferes with the rubber cores flexing freely inside the mattress, this ensures a low friction surface between the pieces and proper movement of the cores. 

#2, related to the first reason is to protect the rubber cores from being damaged by friction over time.

#3, because the oils in our skin can damage latex over time if it is handled frequently, this provides some minimal protection from this.
Re: latex toppers that have irregular spaced holes
Reply #21 Jan 17, 2010 9:40 PM
Joined: Aug 17, 2009
Points: 542
What company is actually doing this? I have never see this or heard about this before.
Re: latex toppers that have irregular spaced holes
Reply #22 Jan 17, 2010 10:32 PM
Joined: May 3, 2008
Points: 827
All of my latex toppers from O-stock had angelhair or gauze covering.  Otherwise I don't think you could have packaged it in the plastic bag.  I believe they have to use a machine to fold and roll it and insert in the bag.  That is why I don't believe a human being repackaged and returned.  Anyway I took the gauge off I want it to stick to the mattress and not move around.

I can see the spacing of the holes being closer, but they aren't as irregular as some of mine.  Some day I will have to take pictures.  I will have to rearrange again soon.  I have it too soft now and I have it 5 1/2" thick over a spring mattress.
Re: latex toppers that have irregular spaced holes
Reply #23 Jan 17, 2010 10:48 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
eagle2 wrote:
What company is actually doing this? I have never see this or heard about this before.

in this case the company that makes these cores (they do not source them from anyone else) is GreenSleep.  this is actually the worlds most expensive all latex mattress.