DIY Latex Mattress Help - SUPER firm base layer

[phoenix]

Hi Eddie Bedder,

My question for now is on the variability of dunlop ILD ratings. As far as I can understand, dunlop doesn’t really have set accepted ILD ratings that are uniform industry-wide? That as a result of the dunlop process, there is a lot more variability in the material. So what it seems is that as a result, some companies are just listing an average ILD of their dunlop, and some are listing a range

I would add to this that some ILD ratings are just incorrect as well. You can read more about this in post #6 here. In the case of Latextoppers they will provide accurate information that comes from their suppliers and they are particulary “fussy” about making sure that the information they provide to their customers is correct and accurate to the degree possible.

For what it’s worth, mattresses.net (the one that rates just a 32 with no range) I believe use LatexCo. ebay’s latextoppers say this particular line is via LatexGreen (the 28-33 ranged mattress). Both are 100% natural.

Latexco is a supplier for Latex Green. You can see their ILD ranges for 100% natural Dunlop in post #2 here. Both are sourced from Latexco.

I would also keep in mind that when you are working on a DIY mattress that you haven’t tested in person that your own personal experience is really the only reliable way to know whether a specific combination of layers and materials is a good “match” for you in terms of PPP because there isn’t a reliable formula that can predict this with any certainty. You can read more of my thoughts about a DIY design vs buying a complete mattress where you can exchange the layers in post #15 here and the other posts it links to.

Aggghhh. Information snippet overload! Anyone have any thoughts on any of this? Thanks as always for how helpful everyone has been!

I don’t think you will be able to narrow down your choices to the degree of specificity that you are looking at because there is a range of ILD’s across the surface of any latex layer and even if you could most people wouldn’t notice any difference with a variance of a few ILD anyway … particularly in a base layer. The kind of specificity you are looking at is subject to the law of diminishing returns and probably wouldn’t make as much difference as you may believe or as much as some of the other variables that are involved.

Just wanted to double check…is that even something that can be done? Or just salesman allaying my concerns here? Of course if they DO is another question, but CAN that be done - hand picking those differences in ILD in the distribution center after it’s already left the factory?

In the case of Talalay … ILD is tested in multiple places across the surface and if the supplier is willing to go through their cores and choose the one which has an average ILD that is closest to the specific ILD that you are requesting (or if the merchant keeps stock on hand and can do this with any of their layers that still have the original label from the 6" core attached) then they could. With Dunlop it can be more difficult because the variance is more than with Talalay and ILD’s aren’t as listed as specifically. I do know that latextoppers will do whatever they can or make special requests when their supplier makes it possible but once again all of this “fine detail” probably isn’t nearly as important or critical as you may believe it is.

Phoenix