Mailbox Security The Homemade Way

[BIG DOOLEY]

No bends.
1/8" and 1/4" stainless steel sheet.
Kwickset deadbolt lock keyed the same as my house door key
Magnetic pads to hold door shut.
Schedule 80 stainless 3" pipe cemented 5' deep in the ground.
Box is bolted to pipe mount plate inside with 3/8" allen socket cap screws inside.
S.S. hinges welded
Hammered paint finish
All pieces hand gut with Metabo grinder and cutoff wheel
Spring tension hold flag in any position.
Top front slot is for incoming mail
Bottom front slot is for outgoing mail with back so it cannot fall inside.
All welds are tig done with Miller AC/DCthunderbolt welder.
Father in-law back into the box not long ago with Chevy K3500 dooley and shattered his rear quarter panel.
Minor scuff to paint that i rubbed out by hand.
Reflective tape lettering.
Recently added some more DOT tape to post on both sides vertically.
I usually send no mail outbound but rather drop off at post office or use a USPS Blue drop box on way to work.

 

[jake98]

That's like a James Bond mailbox!

 

[Thomas]

That should stand about any Halloween test.

 

[creekbend]

Well done. :thumbsup:

 

[murphy1244]

Could of used that last year as mine got smashed 3 times

 

[TCJatko]

Is it "Post Office approved"?:laughing:Very nicely done, by the way.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

Thanks guys
Local police came to my kids school and gave a discussion about on-line predators, Identity theft, mail security......
Mail is one of the easiest ways for people to gain information, signatures... and use this info. to aid in identity theft.
The police pointed out you should not put your outgoing mail in your mailbox.
Instead use a drop box or take it directly to the post office.
My brother in-law had been having a rash of mailbox vandals about the same time.
He had to replace his mailbox 5 times in a very short period.
Drive by vandals were going around smashing them.
He would come home to find his mail scattered on the road side.
We have medication for the family delivered thru a mail order service and it made sense to beef up the security.
If you go out of town or do alot of camping... it is nice that people don't see the mailbox full, an indication you are not home.
That could also lead to a break -in.

 

[Shield Arc]

Nice job!
Not sure I understand how it works! If the post office delivery person can deliver your mail in the front, why do you need a lock in back?

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

Nice job!
Not sure I understand how it works! If the post office delivery person can deliver your mail in the front, why do you need a lock in back?

The mail falls into the bottom of the box and it is difficult to reach inside and pull the mail out.
The slot for incoming mail is small enough that it is hard to attempt to reach inside for the mail.
Pull your mail out from the lock door in the back.
If you have a ditch behind your box, make the box a little taller and the door with the lock would be located on the front.
http://www.fortknoxmailbox.com/pages/vacationer.htm

 

[Shield Arc]

Oh I see now!:thumbsup:
But that would never work in my area, every one who works for the post office around here is dumber than a box of rocks! Most of them can't even read!

 

[ray66v]

Mailbox vandalism is pretty bad in my dads neighborhood. So, he built an indestructible mail box out of 6" square tube.

The vandals took it up as a challenge. They burned it, put a bomb inside it, put acid inside it, and wrapped a chain around it and bent it over with a dually.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

Oh I see now!:thumbsup:
But that would never work in my area, every one who works for the post office around here is dumber than a box of rocks! Most of them can't even read!

added a picture of front door model to last post.

 

[muddstopper]

I gave up on mail boxes years ago. In the age before direct deposit, I used to get my paycheck in my mailbox, delivered by the common USPS mail person. It got to the point that my checks where always late. I once got a check, that had already been replaced after the manditory two wk waiting period. The envelope had been opened and someone had wrote across the front of the envelope, this person does not live at this address. This told me right quick that my paycheck had been left at the wrong address and that person had opened it and then left it setting around for a couple of wks before deciding to put it back in the mail. At that time, I went and got a PObox. I have plenty of bad stories about the pobox as well. As soon as direct deposit became available, I started having my paychecks electronicly deposited in the bank. We also do most of our banking and bill paying online as well. Only mail I get in the POBox is usually junk mail, which I promply take straight back to the outgoing mail slot and deposit. My name is not boxholder and I dont want boxholders mail so I make sure I dont take none of boxholders mail home with me, instead I give the PO a second chance to deliver it correctly by dropping it into the outgoing mail slot. Yea, I have to walk past the trash can in order to do this, but there is a sign taped inside my box that specificly states that I dont want any junk mail or advertisements that are not directly addressed to me, to not be placed inside my box. Its been there for several years and was placed there by my request to the Post Master in charge of my post office. Since Most of the postal workers dont seem to be able to read, the sign oftens gets ignored. And they wonder why the postal service is going broke.

 

[kneedeep]

Several family members have retired or are still working for the USPS. I agree that the service provided is not as good as private firms (UPS, Fedex) but the postal service must deliver all mail that is paid for to be delivered. If it weren't for the 'junk mail' business, the USPS would probably be out of business. The big boys charge way too much for all the flyers, catalogs, coupons, etc to deliver. USPS gets stuck with all the 'junk'. I have a mailbox at our lake place just for E911 and have to 'clean out' my security box every couple of months of junk. I have requested no junk, but if it has my address regardless of what name is on it, it gets crammed in with the rest of the junk. The postmaster has even called me to request a 'cleanout' when no more can be packed in it.

Your Government at work!!

 

[sixdogs]

Make sure the post is stuck in the qround real well. I'm sure you thought about it but so have the young turks intent on getting that mailbox.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

I realy like your design and workmanship. The only problem I see is that it apears to be on the easment of the road. If it is not on your property and someone hits it and gets injured you are probably going to be liable. This happened to my best friends dad. Check with your county or the post office and see what the regulations are. In our area the post can be be no larger than 4"x4" wood or 2"x2"x1/8 steel. The same size as a post for a stop sign, so that if some one hits it it will bend over or snap off.I would hate to see some one get hurt bad and you get in deep trouble over a mail box.
Bill

 

[ruffdog]

I agree. If it's a home made box that is heavy and goes through a windshield when someone hits it, you will need a lawyer that is tougher than your mailbox. just saying

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

the pipe is 3" sched. 80 with tabs welded to the pipe on the lower portion to grab the poured concrete and not sperate.
It is aslo stainless steel so it will not rust over the years.
The front of the box is set back legal distance inside the curb egde so the postman, street sweeper, garbage and recycling truck will not hit it.
I am on a slow residential road on a corner. Traffic only has about 90 - 100' feet to accelerate before reaching the mailbox as they drive past it.
If they hit it I hope they have their seatbelt on Michigan law so they don't go thru their window.
We have Mailboxes in subdivisions of our town that are made of 2' x 2' concrete bases mortar and brick 4' high that would stop a UPS truck going 55mph and hauling Chris Cristie's entire family.I'm not joking.
It's in there now and thats where it is going to stay.
Like I said earlier, my father in-law back out of the driveway with his 1 ton dooley and removed the entire composite box side off his Chevy truck.:confused3:
I have alot more DOT reflective tape on it now.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

Hereis a few other large mailboxes

 

[ruffdog]

Mailbox Placement and Replacement Policy

Installing a Mailbox

This is a guide to residents on proper installation of a mailbox as well as other mailbox information. All mailboxes need to be installed according the United States Postal Guidelines, which are detailed below.

All Mailboxes

1. Mailbox door must be behind the back edge of the curb for streets with curb and gutter, or behind the gravel edge on streets without curb and gutter.
2. Mailbox height should be 36” from the top of the curb to the bottom of the mailbox, or 42” from the top of the gravel to the bottom of the mailbox.
3. An acceptable support for a mailbox includes treated wood post 4” x 4” square, round post 4.5” in diameter, or soft metal 1.5” to 2.5” in diameter. Posts should be embedded no more than 24” into the ground and compacted with sand or gravel, not concrete.
4. Decorative mailboxes that have massive supports such as telephone type pole sections, heavy metal posts, concrete posts, brick or stone posts, brick planters, antique farm equipment, or other similar objects are prohibited because they do not meet federal break-away standards. Any supports must be designed so that if struck, it will bend away from the striking vehicle to prevent severe damage to the vehicle or injury to the traveling public. Property owners may be held liable for injury or damages for mailboxes that do not meet postal guidelines.
5. Street number should be posted on your mailbox and your house.
6. Mailbox should state “Approved by U.S. Post Office Dept.”