| I am finding that the materials for a beckley and other handmades are not very expensive, and I would like to construct my own bed using wool batting, latex and a cuddle bed to top it. I need to find a high support pocket coil system in a box and some natural form of fire retardant. I know that several of you have done mattress surgery. Hoping you have some suggestions, as I do not trust the coil systems in the commercial mattresses and cannot get info on them in any case. wondering if leggett and platt would sell it to me retail. any ideas? thanks |
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Are you positive that Shifman uses cotton felt? All of the cotton felt layers I have seen in a mattress basically look like this:
The stuff is just recycled junk cotton materials....it does NOT hold its shape very well at all. It is suitable to use one or two layers of this directly over the springs to prevent coils from damaging other upholstery materials (coconut coir is better for this job), however I would not use any more than this. Cotton batting can also be purchased in rolls: This is also usually made of new non-recycled materials. It will be more comfortable than cotton felt, it will still ultimately compress which is why if you are going to make a DIY mattress it is important to be able to know how to 'tuft' the fillings into place. This is the problem with going for either of these materials for a DIY build...its simply challenging work. |
Hey Budgy, thanks much for your input on this. I was just thinking, "Hmmm, I'm going to ask Budgy about this", and then there you were in the next response!  Now that you've gotten yourself into this: I really have been wanting to try a layer of cotton and/or wool and I think I have the patience to make it work. But I have no idea of what it is I need to do! Can you explain to me what you mean when you say that you have to "tuft the fillings into place"? I wonder if there's any explanation of this process to be found on the net or anywhere? Or if it is something that only an "old time" mattress maker would know how to do? And surely anyone working for a mattress co. isn't going to show me... (unless I could infiltrate... get a job at a local custom mattress manufacturer, perhaps...!) As I think I mentioned earlier, I have a futon full of what looks like cotton batting. It surely can't be that time consuming to do if cheap futons use it, right? And actually the futon seems pretty comfy for most people who've slept on it. We've had no complaints even when pushing guests for criticism of it, offering them other options, etc. Olenska, do you have a link to show us where you got your info re Shiffman's mattresses using cotton felt or batting etc.? (I'll do a search but if you have one handy...) budgy wrote: Are you positive that Shifman uses cotton felt? All of the cotton felt layers I have seen in a mattress basically look like this:
The stuff is just recycled junk cotton materials....it does NOT hold its shape very well at all. It is suitable to use one or two layers of this directly over the springs to prevent coils from damaging other upholstery materials (coconut coir is better for this job), however I would not use any more than this. Cotton batting can also be purchased in rolls: This is also usually made of new non-recycled materials. It will be more comfortable than cotton felt, it will still ultimately compress which is why if you are going to make a DIY mattress it is important to be able to know how to 'tuft' the fillings into place. This is the problem with going for either of these materials for a DIY build...its simply challenging work. This message was modified May 26, 2010 by jimsocal
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| Thanks for the pictures Budgy, that is helpful. Do you happen to know the width of the cotton batting rolls? I know I have seen this at the upholstery supply shop. I just wondered if I made a "quilt" type topper with the typical quilter's stitch by hand I could tolerate it. This would not be washable though would it? |
| Cotton batting is washable, however you have to take into account the shrinkage. So you have to build it oversized. It might shrink as much as 10~15% depending on how its all quilted. |
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Thanks Budgy, I will make it much larger than 60x80 than. Did you know how wide and thick the batting is? Is it always the same everywhere? I am going to go to the upholstery supply shop and take a look sometime. 1/2 hour away, so I just wanted to do the math first. It could bunch up and be a mess in the wash if it is not really quilted well wouldn't it? May be a huge project the more I think about it. Do they sell wool batting anywhere? I know the upholstery shop locally here has only cotton. The reason I would want wool over cotton is dust mites and cotton, versus wool and no dust mites (according to legend) LOL. |
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well the cotton might actually be better for this than generic wool as it is washable. most wool is not going to take to washing well. ive never actually bought cotton batting before, i would imagine whoever sells it would have to know the specs on it, width, and how thick it is or they measure it in GSM or oz per yd. |
| Thanks Budgy! I love the upholstery shop, all the fabrics, and foams, guess I am a do it yourself person anyway. I don't have much to lose trying the cotton batting and quilting. |
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Hey Jim, http://www.ehow.com/how_5016168_make-tufts-upholstery.html If you have a basic understanding of sewing you can perhaps decipher this. Although because of the thickness involved you will have to adjust your own measurements and I would recommend using a stronger thread than standard cotton yarn. You will probably want to use linen yarn if you can get it. And you need a strong and long threading needle to make this kind of work a lot easier on the hands. EDITED: better link to read This message was modified May 26, 2010 by budgy
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budgy, many thanks for your assistance on this. the cotton batting in the shifman was layered with each layer about one half inch. It looks like your second photo, of cotton batting. so that is what they are using. I have read online reviews from people who have had their shifmans and hastens compress pretty badly. and those are cotton and wool. so I see what you mean about this being a tricky venture. their "remedy" is to put the mattress on the floor and stomp on it, and they say that puts the cotton and wool back into balance. sounds like the same maintenance as a feather bed, which was also used as a mattress in the past. hope I don't botch this, so I am very grateful for your advice. This message was modified May 26, 2010 by olenska
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Just saw this post...the cotton batting I've seen used in beds is the second picture...and there is plenty of it, inches and inches, tho I did not measure. First springs, then insulator layer(s)...wire mesh/burlap, the cotton, then foam...usually glued I think... Kait |