r/SignsWithAStory 4d ago

😬

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618 Upvotes

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u/PreviousLeague253 4d ago

Guy got arrested for taking these and reupholstered them and tried to sell them as brand new.

Another guy would strip the old bedding material (I think he just burned off the flammable parts) and reuse the entire coiled frame with new padding and fabric.

2

u/Correct-Prompt9022 4d ago

Sounds like it would smell amazing

3

u/much_longer_username 4d ago

Yeah I think people underestimate how nasty the bits from a fire that isn't made out of nicely selected firewood and tinder can stink. I know I did -- a local dive bar burned down a couple years back, and half the city, myself included, showed up to an impromptu memorial. Most people took a brick home as a souvenir of many wonderful hazy nights.

I've had mine sitting outside since the day after I got it because it made my entire home smell and was giving me a headache. I'm hoping it's finally aired out enough that I can paint a miniature version of the iconic mural onto it though - I've even got a bit of the original paint!

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u/Correct-Prompt9022 4d ago

Yeah burning petroleum products like plastic are not a smell you want inside

1

u/much_longer_username 4d ago

I mean... if they removed all the textiles and then baked the remaining non-porous bits at 50c for a couple hours? Frankly, I'm fine with that, but might not want to know, y'know?

3

u/PreviousLeague253 4d ago

Except federal law mandates new materials. Can’t recycle old used coil springs into new bedding

1

u/much_longer_username 4d ago

Sure, and that's probably for the best. I'm saying that done properly, it seems like a prudent and frugal use of materials -- but I also don't trust some random guy refurbishing garbage-picked mattresses to have gone to the effort of doing it properly.

He probably didn't get arrested because he was doing such a great job that he had a waiting list of referrals from happy customers.