Show me your built mailboxes!

[jonshonda]

 

[StormcrowAz]

I put this in a while back. I think it’s cool, but looking at some of the others it seems like it’s a plain-Jane crankshaft build.

This thread did get me thinking though, driving down a one-mile stretch of the road in front of my house…how many different types of mailboxes our neighborhood (or at least this street) has. Kind of a testament to human diversity. I was tempted to take a bunch of pictures and post them, but I didn’t build those and I bet it would look like I’m a creeper…driving slowly down the street taking pictures of mailboxes!

 

[selectedgrub]

 

[MushCreek]

The Postal Service does not regulate mailbox supports in any way except for purposes of carrier safety and delivery efficiency. Posts and other supports for curbside mailboxes are owned and controlled by customers, who are responsible for ensuring that posts are neat and adequate in strength and size. Heavy metal posts, concrete posts, and miscellaneous items of farm equipment, such as milk cans filled with concrete, are examples of potentially dangerous supports. The ideal support is an assembly that bends or falls away when struck by a vehicle. Post or support designs may not represent effigies or caricatures that disparage or ridicule any person. Customers may attach the box to a fixed or movable arm. POM 632.5 specifies postal regulations regarding construction and placement of mailboxes and supports on motorized city, rural, and contract delivery service routes.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has determined that wooden mailbox supports no larger than 4 inches by 4 inches, or a 2-inch diameter standard steel or aluminum pipe, buried no more than 24 inches, should safely break away if struck by a vehicle. According to FHWA, the mailbox must also be securely attached to its post to prevent separation if struck. See Exhibits E (page 22) and F (page 23) for examples of mailbox mountings and supports suggested by the FHWA.

Mailboxes are a lot closer to the road than utility poles, at least around here. The power pole in my front yard is a good 10' from the road. I need a new post for my mailbox. The cheap pre-made 4X4 one I bought warps depending upon the moisture content. In wet weather, it's straight. In dry weather, it curves a couple inches.

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

Some nice boxes in this thread. I've done similar ones in the past.

This is what we use now instead of a traditional mailbox.



I was tired of mowing around our box, clearing snow from around it, fixing it when the snowplow or idiots hit it, etc.

One day a representative from Canada Post came in the yard while I was mowing, he said I would have to move our mailbox as they had determined that because it was near the end of a sharp curve in the road it was unsafe for the mail drivers to stop at it.

Said I could move it to my neighbour's driveway as a gang box with theirs if they approved or they could give us a box in the new neighbourhood gang box location or a free P.O. box in town.

It's about 1/2 mile from home, have to go by it every time we leave.

It's free with zero maintenance. No brainer as far as I'm concerned.

 

[GonePostal]

haha Theres some cool mailboxes here. While there ARE lots of rules and regulations concerning mailboxes, I can assure you that most every letter carrier wont care one way or the other about your mailbox, support, whatever... as long as they can get your mail inside of it.

Like any government agency, there are TONS of rules, but very little enforcement. Great mailboxes tho!

 

[Modern Garage]

I looked at the regs for mailbox height and setback when I built mine but mostly I walked up and down our street and measured the nearby boxes and averaged the numbers to set mine, so it would be in the window the carrier is already used to. The only comment she had was that I needed a flag on it if she was going to pick up outgoing mail. I'm thinking "No sweat, I'll walk thirty feet to the nearest neighbor and leave it there".
Joe

 

[cpttuna]

remember it can be as simple as a 5 gallon bucket with your address on it

 

[cpttuna]

haha Theres some cool mailboxes here. While there ARE lots of rules and regulations concerning mailboxes, I can assure you that most every letter carrier wont care one way or the other about your mailbox, support, whatever... as long as they can get your mail inside of it.

Like any government agency, there are TONS of rules, but very little enforcement. Great mailboxes tho!

they are just concerned getting to it and driving away from it plus no unwanted critters are living in it.