Ok, this is sorta cheesy, but I need a nice mailbox post design for the future mother in-law, something far nicer then the standard 4×4 with the diagonal brace.
I have a few ideas in mind but thought i would pole the collective braintrust of breaktime…
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Replies
Something nice to impress the new inlaws......
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that is nice, copper?
I want a more tradional look, along the lines of a standard boring mail-box post in form, Just going to dress it up a bit, really just looking for different trim details, I got my ideas but looking for options.
Seen some actually pretty nice ones made of old crankshafts, engine blocks, bricks, welded chain, old plows, plasma cutter cutouts of the grandkids profiles, etc. etc. do a google and look til you see something you think she'e like.
You probably don't want to do what the guy down the street did - buried the front end of an old ford 4 ft deep and put the mailbox on what was left sticking out of the ground.
Kieth posted a flamed mailbox awhile back
When I did my mailbox, there were lots of web hits on ideas and photos.
thanks for the idea to search for pics... apperantly I'm not as smart as I think I am, cause I never thunk that...
anyway, this is similiar to what I'm thinking
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Just realized, thats apperantly in the next issue of wood magazine... maybe I'll just cop-out and steal their plans...
don't want the future MIL to think I spent to much time coming up with something...
Edited 4/1/2004 10:57 pm ET by CAG
That looks nice... especially with the $6 mailbox on it.
Mother-In-Law, huh? Something in a gallows motif? - lol
dang, yahoo has a bunch of images of mailboxes if you care to look
here's one for the Boss man
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Around here the traditional standard "non-standard" mailbox post has been the welded chain in an "S" shape. Kind of a cliche by now.
When I inquired at the post office, the flyer they gave me with the height requirements recommended an inverted "L" shape so that the mailbox stood proud of the post by a couple of feet. I guess the theory is that when some tipsy citizen plows in to the box, it swings out of the way without totalling his car. I don't recall the measurements, but there is definately a minimum and maximum height if you actually want mail to end up in it.
I have been trying to come up with a reasonable design that when some local perp swings at the box with a baseball bat, the thing will swing in a big circle and clobber the jerk in the back of the head...
However, I will probably just do the mailbox with enough reinforcement that the bat will shatter without doing visible damage to the box. Already bought a heavy gauge oversized steel locking mailbox for $149, now just have to put up the post and fasten it down so that I can get my very own Fine Homebuilding delivered instead of having to haul it home from the store...
You can also do without a post and have a freestanding unit like a 4 footed unit.
Casey: drag on out to your scrap pile and weld up a 300# mailbox out of old 8 inch channel and 1/2" plate, that'll stop the ballbats.
DW had me make up a near vandal and theft proof box (simplex lock even) after there were a number of mail thefts in the area. The attached is with just the primer coat. It is now blue - just after I'd painted it blue there were a couple outgoing letters dropped in it by neighbors!
Had to install it with the front loader, to heavy to move otherwise.
That thing looks heavier than our customer service bill drop box.
Did you have to pour a footing for it?
Dave
One side spported by 8" creosoted old dock piling 6 ft into the ground, other corner by 3/8" by 3" steel bar into 6" thick walkway.
Just saw one yesterday that was the empty shell of a Sears outboard motor.
Mr T
Happiness is a cold wet nose
Life is is never to busy to stop and pet the Doggies!!
Before I suggest anything, do the local youths practice "mailbox baseball" from the beds of moving pickup trucks? If so, we will need to take into consideration the issue of impact strength.
well its not a mailbox post... but one of my favorite mailboxes... if i can only talk the other half into getting it...
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this gives you an idea of how big it is...
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Edited 4/2/2004 1:50 pm ET by oak
Here are 2 roofed mailboxes I've done in conjunction with bigger projects. Both are set on galvey steel posts set 2' into the ground.
The biggest one (with the bamboo around the steel post) actually Did Get whacked with a baseball bat ! Luckily I was able to repair it.
The fish shaped mailbox is nice but the 'post' holding it in the second picture makes the look. Where can I get one of those posts?
Here's some pics of a design to avoid:
http://www.joespc.com/carlos/photo/mailbox20front.jpg
http://www.joespc.com/carlos/photo/mailbox20back.jpg
http://www.joespc.com/carlos/photo/mailbox20full.jpg
That's great! The biggest problem is you better always have outgoing mail. It looks like the flag is permanently in the "up" position. Nice masonry work too.
How 'bout this? It'll certainly impress!
Rod
CAG,
Here's one I built a few years ago for our house. Mostly from driftwood.
Ken
I think that's the best one yet Ken ! American Folk Art ! Very creative.