Mailbox Security The Homemade Way

[wroughtn_harv]

Do yourself a favor, look around. If you look closely you see that all of the newer traffic signs are installed with breakaways that are easily severed and easily replaced if they are in the right of way. The same thing goes for the fire hydrants etc.

What your pictures show is you are not alone. I was there until my bud was throwing the biggest fit ever after his wife called and complained about the wet checks because his pride and joy mailbox ended up in the bar ditch without warning. That made me start thinking about it. So now when I make a killer mailbox I always make it where it will break apart of break away if a car hits it. You could modify yours the same way the highway department and I do posts in the right of way. Nothing but a thing, and it makes you legal and reflects a sense of personal responsibility.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

I could make a relief cut at the bottom with a pipe cutter.
I have a friend that has large rigid cutters and I could score the bottom.

 

[Shield Arc]

I could make a relief cut at the bottom with a pipe cutter.
I have a friend that has large rigid cutters and I could score the bottom.

Wonder if it wouldn't be better to take a port-a-band and make a cut from each side? In the directions of traffic? Just leave a 1/4 to 3/8-inch of material.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

that would be another way.
No need to worry about rusting the pipe.
I would just fill the gaps with bondo and repaint.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

the way the highway dept does and I have done is cut the post, weld a plate on each end, this should be as close to the ground as practical. Then use cheap bolts that will shear with any serious impact to secure the plates together. If someone bumps your mailbox then you can fix it immediately and with little trouble. If there is an accident the first thing the litigant types will see is you were diligent in protecting the public. If no one is hurt because you showed due diligence then your heart will feel a lot better too.

BTW, you cannot believe how much I appreciate your maturity on this. You are to be commended for your consideration for the safety of others.

I like the mailbox btw. It shows craftsmanship and thinking.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

Thanks.
I am a firm believer of doing things safely.
Bolts just leave a gap for theives.
Thats why it is bolted from the inside.
The inner bolts could receive relief cuts also to add a safety factor without compromising security.
After all it is a security box.
Agressive relief cuts stop thieves and add the margin for safety.

 

[Shield Arc]

You could also make 4 individual cuts. Leave material at say 12 and 6- o'clock, (directions of traffic) also at 3 and 9-o'clock. That way there is no movement at all.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

You could also make 4 individual cuts. Leave material at say 12 and 6- o'clock, (directions of traffic) also at 3 and 9-o'clock. That way there is no movement at all.

Ahh!
Great minds think alike

 

[Shield Arc]

I've been called a lot things in my time, but never a great mind! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[Dr Dave]

Nice box, thats a great idea to use the keyed alike deadbolt, that matches your home. I have way too many keys the way it is.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

I've been called a lot things in my time, but never a great mind! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.
Eleanor Roosevelt

 

[Dr Dave]

The OP did a heck of a nice job with his mailbox, and all stainless steel to boot!

We have numerous mailboxes embedded in brick, stone, concrete, etc monuments in my neighborhood, and the USPS hasn't griped about them. On one street a mailbox-monument was struck by a vehicle. It's no longer vertical; but it's intact.

As for junk mail. I signed up for the junk mail "do not call" equivalent at https://www.dmachoice.org and my junk mail has been reduced by 90% or more.

You may want to think twice about eliminating junk mail. A neighbor delivers mail, she said if it was not for junk mail and magazines, she and others would be out of a job. They were told that next to go is rural routes, and then door to door service, in town. You will have to drive to the post office and pickup your mail, from a box you have to rent. This has already happened to many small towns. Your choice, you are just speeding up the future loss of free mail service, and many more jobs.

 

[Shield Arc]

You may want to think twice about eliminating junk mail. A neighbor delivers mail, she said if it was not for junk mail and magazines, she and others would be out of a job. They were told that next to go is rural routes, and then door to door service, in town. You will have to drive to the post office and pickup your mail, from a box you have to rent. This has already happened to many small towns. Your choice, you are just speeding up the future loss of free mail service, and many more jobs.

I already do that, about 6-miles to town.
I have real heart burn with my local post office!:thumbdown: In my opinion people who work for the post office, are to lazy to work, and to chicken **** to steal for a living! :mischievous:
Again, just my opinion!

 

[Bob77064]

Good job, looks great.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

You may want to think twice about eliminating junk mail. A neighbor delivers mail, she said if it was not for junk mail and magazines, she and others would be out of a job. They were told that next to go is rural routes, and then door to door service, in town. You will have to drive to the post office and pickup your mail, from a box you have to rent. This has already happened to many small towns. Your choice, you are just speeding up the future loss of free mail service, and many more jobs.

Advertising and periodicals account for 30% the total revenue for the US post office.
Postal Facts
This is also a source of pollution and a waste of our enviromental resources.
It is also probably 1/3 of the operating cost when you account for added weight, extra stops only for just delivery for advertising and periodicals.
If there was less junk mail to process there would have to be less operating expense.
Sure it will stop a part of the total revenue but it would dramatically cut operating expenses at the same time.
311,591,917 (2011) U.S. population
Rental mailboxes ???
Never happen
Not possible nation wide.
Private delivery companies? maybe
More jobs? maybe

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I already do that, about 6-miles to town.
I have real heart burn with my local post office!:thumbdown: In my opinion people who work for the post office, are to lazy to work, and to chicken **** to steal for a living! :mischievous:
Again, just my opinion!

Wow, you need to come to our post office. I find them amazing at doing a job I could never do. And, this is a huge and, I have found the USPS the best at delivery and price, even internationally. They have really impressed me the last couple of years.

 

[Shield Arc]

Wow, you need to come to our post office. I find them amazing at doing a job I could never do. And, this is a huge and, I have found the USPS the best at delivery and price, even internationally. They have really impressed me the last couple of years.

Let me tell you a little story! Few years ago I got a really good deal on some ESAB Atom Arc 7018 off ebay. Got a pink card in my P.O. Box when I went to the front desk I told the 6'-4 275-pound clerk that if the package was heavy please be very careful with it! As he was walking from the back I could hear him whining like a little school girl. When he got to the counter he slams the 50-pound box of 7018 on it! I just cringed. I walked off while shaking the box, rattle rattle. I stopped at a table still inside the room, took my pocket knife out and opened the box, a good 1/3 to 1/2 of the rods were broken! I looked up and he was watching me. I said what part of be careful you didn't understand?! He took one step back looked to his right and said I have a disgruntled customer out here. The post master came into sight, and said get out! Get out now! And kept yelling, would not listen to my side of the story. Well working my whole life on the water front, I'm not real big on being yelled at, or told what to do. So I'm not going anywhere. The post master calls the city police. 2 cop cars show up, one cop takes me aside to get my story, the other talks to the post master and clerk. The cop that was talking to me talks to the other cop then to the post office people. Comes back to me and says do you have Internet access? I replied yes. He says you need to go on line and file a complaint about this. 20-minutes after I hit the send button my telephone is ringing. Huh imagine that the Post Office's regional office in Seattle calling. The woman wants to hear my side of the story. When I finish she says that is not the same story the post master just told me. Again imagine that! I told her to pick a time, and date that we can all meet at the post office. She asked why, I said so we can all view the security cameras together. Boy did her attitude change! See why I have no love for those ?

 

[crazyal]

My biggest problem is people crashing into mine. Usually during the winter when the ground is frozen. You would think the telephone pole next to it would deter them but sadly not. I think making a robo box would be cool but I'm not sure if I would want to find a car wrapped around it.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

My biggest problem is people crashing into mine. Usually during the winter when the ground is frozen. You would think the telephone pole next to it would deter them but sadly not. I think making a robo box would be cool but I'm not sure if I would want to find a car wrapped around it.

Maybe some orange paint?

 

[crazyal]

Maybe some orange paint?
View attachment 295502

It could attract them. :laughing: