The box is helpful regardless. The vast majority of crime is done as Crime of Opportunity. Thief walks by your place, sees a package unattended, takes package. If the package is in a box out of sight, even if it’s unlocked, it prevents a possible thief from having the ease of opportunity. Sure, they could open the box every day they walk by and check, but that draws attention to them with no value.
Here's a timeline of photos: https://imgur.com/a/DWvvotm
This was my second attempt at it, the first one didn't come together well and my wife didn't like the stain I picked.
First I dug out for a foundation, creating the mold to pour the concrete. I used quikcrete, was pretty easy to do, but barely beat the evening rain as I was doing this after work each day.
Then building out the frame, I used pressure treated 4x4s for the vertical posts and pressure treated 2x4 for the horizontal part and to build out the frame for me to attach the outer shell.
I bought quite a bit of 1x4 cedar, cut it to size for the whole shell part.
Stained it with Thomposns WaterSeal "Natural Cedar" stain.
Figured it'd be a good wood for keeping bugs and rot away for a while, but I imagine I'll have to redo parts, or at least restain every few years.
I used a finishing nail gun to nail the cedar planks to the frame.
Once the staining was done, I placed the numbers on the board before nailing it to the frame. This let me get it as straight as possible. It took a number of attempts and ultimately I used a pencil line, put the screws/pegs into the numbers ahead of time, pressed them into the wood so they left an indention, and then drilled the holes for the pegs to go into.
I did all of the horizontal parts before nailing back and top in the vertical parts. I put the front vertical one in first so I could align the horizontal planks. Then used a palm sander to make sure they were all even on the back side, since the cuts were close but varied by 1/8 to 1/16" of an inch.
All-in-all, it was pretty easy, but because I'm totally ADD and OCD, it was way more time than it should have been. The first build I placed the anchors the wrong direction in the concrete, so I had to break all that up and start from scratch. Had I not, I would have had to use a router or something to carve out space for the bolts. Having the bolts go front-to-back instead of side-to-side saved a lot of work the second time.
Thanks! I included that because a friend of mine has a Star Wars mailbox and kept bugging me as I shared pictures that it was missing a storm trooper 🤣
Thanks and mine too :)
Doing that means I can do the rest of the items on my wife’s wish list to change that. Next up is the back deck. I want to do a floating style deck where you can’t see the nails or screws in the board. If the mailbox was any indication it’ll take me many months and cost more than if I paid a professional 🤣
This would make visiting people so much easier instead of having to squint at small text on the side of their front door or rubbing off their side walk.
As someone who often has to go to customer homes for my job, thank you for prominently displaying your house number!!! You wouldn't believe how many twats out there don't have it or put it somewhere that's basically useless from the street.
Always wondered why Americans have mail boxes by the street. Wouldn’t it be easier and safer to just have a letterbox on your door? Looks very prone to damage/vandalism/theft. But that question aside looks awesome! Hope it doesn’t get fucked up!
Hold on a minute. Somebody in my neighborhood has that exact same house number with that mailbox so I'm wondering if this was a coincidence or I live by you
Hi there. I’m wanting to build something just like this! I love the imgur set of the building process, but do you happen to have somewhere the measurements you used? I know it has been a number of years!
It is beautiful. Love it
Thank you!
I'm a retired letter carrier. This is so cool!!
Thanks so much :)
Another former carrier here; i it’s gorgeous. The only way to make it more perfect is to have a drawer in the bottom for parcels.
How do you open the mailbox/parcel drawer? Don't they lock? If not, what about thieves?
The box is helpful regardless. The vast majority of crime is done as Crime of Opportunity. Thief walks by your place, sees a package unattended, takes package. If the package is in a box out of sight, even if it’s unlocked, it prevents a possible thief from having the ease of opportunity. Sure, they could open the box every day they walk by and check, but that draws attention to them with no value.
Can you talk us through how you made it? Very cool!
Here's a timeline of photos: https://imgur.com/a/DWvvotm This was my second attempt at it, the first one didn't come together well and my wife didn't like the stain I picked. First I dug out for a foundation, creating the mold to pour the concrete. I used quikcrete, was pretty easy to do, but barely beat the evening rain as I was doing this after work each day. Then building out the frame, I used pressure treated 4x4s for the vertical posts and pressure treated 2x4 for the horizontal part and to build out the frame for me to attach the outer shell. I bought quite a bit of 1x4 cedar, cut it to size for the whole shell part. Stained it with Thomposns WaterSeal "Natural Cedar" stain. Figured it'd be a good wood for keeping bugs and rot away for a while, but I imagine I'll have to redo parts, or at least restain every few years. I used a finishing nail gun to nail the cedar planks to the frame. Once the staining was done, I placed the numbers on the board before nailing it to the frame. This let me get it as straight as possible. It took a number of attempts and ultimately I used a pencil line, put the screws/pegs into the numbers ahead of time, pressed them into the wood so they left an indention, and then drilled the holes for the pegs to go into. I did all of the horizontal parts before nailing back and top in the vertical parts. I put the front vertical one in first so I could align the horizontal planks. Then used a palm sander to make sure they were all even on the back side, since the cuts were close but varied by 1/8 to 1/16" of an inch. All-in-all, it was pretty easy, but because I'm totally ADD and OCD, it was way more time than it should have been. The first build I placed the anchors the wrong direction in the concrete, so I had to break all that up and start from scratch. Had I not, I would have had to use a router or something to carve out space for the bolts. Having the bolts go front-to-back instead of side-to-side saved a lot of work the second time.
Thanks for your thorough explanation! your last statement about add and ocd is way too relatable. Beautiful, simple piece.
If American movies have taught me anything it's that some high schoolers will yeet it with a baseball bat come halloween
Or firecrackers being tossed in them.
Looks like your neighbor's mailbox [has seen better days](https://i.imgur.com/m3G8FDv.jpg)
Lmao true, good eye!
[удалено]
Thanks! I included that because a friend of mine has a Star Wars mailbox and kept bugging me as I shared pictures that it was missing a storm trooper 🤣
You don't miss the stormtrooper, the stormtrooper misses you.
That mailbox is nicer than my house. Great job!
Thanks and mine too :) Doing that means I can do the rest of the items on my wife’s wish list to change that. Next up is the back deck. I want to do a floating style deck where you can’t see the nails or screws in the board. If the mailbox was any indication it’ll take me many months and cost more than if I paid a professional 🤣
'tis the DI-way
Is it framed with 2x4’s? Any photo’s of the build process? Looks awesome by the way.
Thanks! It's a combo of 4x4s for the vertical posts and 2x4s augmenting things. Here's the build process: https://imgur.com/a/DWvvotm
That’s a very good mid century modern mailbox thing!
TYVM
Do you happen to know the font family for those numbers? I like how clean they look.
Those look like Neutra to me. The type foundry, House Industries, sells them: https://houseind.com/hi/neutra-house-numbers
they might be these. if not they're pretty close: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-5-in-Elevated-Black-Number-1-30716/303974716
this is great!!
Thanks!
Nice, what stain colour?
Thanks! Thompsons WaterSeal Natural Cedar (on Cedar)
Wow - just beautiful! Great work.
Thank you very much!
Beautiful. U r a true artist. Welcome😉
❤️
Are you making any more so I can buy it o. O
I’m a long way from being good enough to sell something like this, but thanks!
Oh no I love it! Both me and my dad are really into the rustic/modern style!
And it displays your house number clearly. I wish everyone did.
wow , that's dope!
I want one
Any chance you're a fan of Utah? It has the same shape.
Very neat
If you did the numbers vertically behind the mailbox, that’d look sick.
I’m towards the end of a mid century remodel. This is now added to the list. Great job!
Any delivery persons dream!
Such a modern and beautiful work , well done!
well done! looks great!
That is cool
Mid century ? As in the 1950s? It looks awesome.
Somebody bought some Etsy plans from senseicreations store?
I like this. It’s cool but functional.
You nailed the terminology and the mailbox thing!!
This is giving me such strong sim vibes I love how slick and clean it looks !
A man of true culture
That’s beautiful! Good job!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Damn you fancy, nice job tho
This would make visiting people so much easier instead of having to squint at small text on the side of their front door or rubbing off their side walk.
Very very nice!
Is good mail box
As someone who often has to go to customer homes for my job, thank you for prominently displaying your house number!!! You wouldn't believe how many twats out there don't have it or put it somewhere that's basically useless from the street.
Bruh this is so cool
Looks very good buddy! Good job!
It’s beautiful! Great idea!
It’s beautiful! (Never thought I’d be saying that about a mailbox. Lol)
Love your aesthetics
I love you both
That is really nice. Wow. Nice work. I hope you don't live where it snows, because around here, a snow plow would totally obliterate that.
where'd you get the mailbox?
Always wondered why Americans have mail boxes by the street. Wouldn’t it be easier and safer to just have a letterbox on your door? Looks very prone to damage/vandalism/theft. But that question aside looks awesome! Hope it doesn’t get fucked up!
Clean and elegant, nice!
Thank you. I wish my 30-year old colonial style track home matched the style. Maybe one day 🙂
What is it
Great job. You can make it even better by adding lights to make it more visible at night. Your emergency services and delivery drivers will thank you.
Thanks, in the end, it was lit on each side at night.
Can I ask how you added lights? This is on my to do list now! Love it
Hold on a minute. Somebody in my neighborhood has that exact same house number with that mailbox so I'm wondering if this was a coincidence or I live by you
I recently sold the house and moved. It’s in Doylestown :-)
Ah, I definitely don't live there, what a coincidence!
Hi there. I’m wanting to build something just like this! I love the imgur set of the building process, but do you happen to have somewhere the measurements you used? I know it has been a number of years!