Splitting a foam mattress from a king to 2 twins?

[PandaBear]

So, I have a 6 or 7 year old foam mattress that is 10" thick, king size, in OK condition, that I can either give away for free / near free, or split in 2 and use it to replace a slightly more worn out twin mattress. If I were to replace the slightly more worn out twin mattress of equivalent it would cost about $160-180 on Costco. If I were to cut this king mattress it would mean I either need to get some custom saw, carving knife, heating wire cutter to cut it then return the tool.

I saw a lot of hobby projects doing that with saw and dust flies everywhere, and the right way to do it would either be a heating wire cutter or an industrial machine that is not cutting with a sawtooth cutter. After that I would need to wrap the mattress with some sort of a cover so it won't release dust over time. It probably would be worth about 3 more years of usage out of this afterward if I am lucky, and translate that to a $160 mattress that last 8 years it would likely be worth $60 of use.

If you were me would you try to cut and use it? or would you just give it away to someone who wants a free mattress and haul away?

 

[andrew_j]

Throw it away.

 

[SHOZ]

The opens side would be saggy I would think

 

[ripcord]

You could do it by hand with a serrated bread knife. A few years ago I trimmed down a queen sized memory foam mattress so it would in an RV (RV queen size is a few inches shorter than standard). If I remember correctly, I used a newish Ginsu serrated kitchen knife. The cut edge turned out fairly clean, though not perfect. I haven't noticed any dust or deterioration in the edge and the level of effort to cut it down was pretty low.

 

[BHopkins]

I would throw it away.

For me at least, it would not be worth the effort, to end up with half a mattress that is going to look like Hannibal Lecter spent the night on it. I suspect that @SHOZ is right about the cut side is not going to feel the same as the "finished" side. You are going to end up with pieces of foam and batting sluffing off every time the bed is made.

 

[TCL]

Sawzall

 

[2009Caraman]

Id cut it with an exacto knife(not sure if you yankees call it that). Nice clean cut. Then stuff it in a zippered duvet cover.

 

[wag123]

You can use an electric knife. That is what the upholsters use to cut and sculpt foam.

 

[wpod]

Toss it.

 

[Furious]

If you want fiberglass all over the place go for it, most of these memory foam mattresses especially within the past 10 years contain fiberglass.

 

[Kira]

10" thick King...how much does this hunk of foam weigh? Is it yellowing?

Somewhere somehow this material could pack and secure something.

 

[RhondaHonda]

If you are going to toss it out may as well try cutting it with an electric knife or something since it’ll probably need cut up to go in the garbage.

I think I’d just spring for a new mattress in the end

 

[fdcg27]

Mattresses are cheap enough to make this whole thing not worth messing with.
Bag it and put it on the curb.

 

[ctechbob]

You can use an electric knife. That is what the upholsters use to cut and sculpt foam.

Yep, you can carve a turkey with them, and foam mattresses. Doesn't make any mess either.

 

[SC Maintenance]

In the factory they use a sort of electric knife. Its industrial, but its not too dis-similar to an old fashion electric knife - the oscilating blades doing the work without squishing the foam. Of course the foam in the factory is new so it doesn't shed much dust. If you have an old electric knife?

 

[PandaBear]

If you want fiberglass all over the place go for it, most of these memory foam mattresses especially within the past 10 years contain fiberglass.

I've checked with the manufacturer and there's no fiberglass inside. It is ploy foam + memory foam. If it has any fiberglass I wouldn't want to cut it.

 

[PandaBear]

If you are going to toss it out may as well try cutting it with an electric knife or something since it’ll probably need cut up to go in the garbage.

I think I’d just spring for a new mattress in the end

We have 'large item disposal' twice a year, and therefore not a problem. It is just whether it is worth the effort or whether it is even worth selling for $50 or so used to some new immigrants or not.

 

[PandaBear]

The opens side would be saggy I would think

The closed side is already saggy. I would align it against the wall so it is not a big deal (will need an extra bedsheet or mattress protector over it to avoid shedding though.

 

[PandaBear]

10" thick King...how much does this hunk of foam weigh? Is it yellowing?

Somewhere somehow this material could pack and secure something.

It is a "complete" mattress, so I can't tell whether the inside is yellowing.

 

[AZjeff]

You get no dust or mess with an electric carving knife. I cut thousands of pieces of foam with various tools including carving knives, fillet knives, hot wire, band saw, etc etc making military aircraft seat inserts at work. You have nothing to lose.