A private or country house, as well as a dacha, have their own address to which letters, notices and other correspondence will be sent. To prevent it from scattering all over the area and from getting wet from rain or snow, it is best to install a mailbox near the gate. You can buy it at a hardware store, but your own model would be ideal. You can choose any material, dimensions, shape and colors. We will talk about how to make a mailbox with your own hands in this article. Detailed developments and step-by-step instructions will help you realize any idea or project.
Varieties
It is very important that the mailbox is combined with the overall style of the house, as well as the landscape design of the site, and a harmonious picture is obtained. No less important is such a parameter as capacity and choosing the right place for placement. Experts advise first deciding on this question: the future letter box will be used exclusively for its intended purpose or will additionally be a separate decorative element. In the latter case, with its appearance it will attract the attention of passers-by and friends.
With door at the bottom
Now let's look at the main types of mailboxes, which are divided by execution style.
- Traditional mailboxes are purchased exclusively for receiving all types of correspondence. These types are common in post-Soviet countries and can be made from a variety of materials. In the modern world, to make them more attractive, they are additionally decorated with a variety of objects. They are mounted both on the fence and on the gate. It should be noted that this particular type is universal and popular, as it is simple and convenient.
American
American boxes are the same in design, but different in design. This allows everyone to choose the best option. All mail is left horizontal, so bulky magazines and newspapers will have to be rolled up. A special difference from other models of boxes is the presence of a special flag. If it is raised, it means there are letters to be sent. Unlike our rules, in America postmen retrieve letters and send them through the mail themselves. An American mailbox should be installed on a separate support made of wood or metal, or a decorative figure.- The design of English-type drawers is a stationary cabinet-table, which is laid out of brick or welded durable metal. Install it directly on the ground, a couple of meters before the entrance to the site. Skilled builders make a replica of the house in miniature, which will harmoniously complement the main building of the estate. These boxes are quite spacious and also very durable, so they will last for many years.
English
The category of original mailboxes includes projects and finished products that are exclusively extraordinary design solutions. In any of them you can recognize most household items that have gone through transformation. The easiest option is to make a post office for a private home from plastic or lumber. But if you want to make a model from sheets of metal, you will need skills and a welding machine. At the same time, it is the most durable and durable.
Made of metal
Varieties and styles
A mailbox, which is located in the local area, often serves more than just its intended purpose. Such products also become a harmonious addition to the design of the building facade. Therefore, before making such a product, you should decide on the design variations. Experts distinguish three main types of mailboxes:
- In a classic style. This design is a vertical box equipped with a slot for letters and other correspondence. As a rule, they are installed by hanging them on a fence or wall of the house. Despite its simplicity, even such a box can be decorated in an original way through painting, decoupage techniques and other techniques.
- In English style. This product is made in the form of a cabinet-table, which is mounted directly on the ground. As a rule, a mailbox is placed a few steps from the main entrance to the house. Externally, this design resembles a miniature model of a residential building and is made of durable steel or brickwork.
- American style. Such mailboxes are a metal box in the shape of a half-pipe. They are mounted on a separate support or wooden rod and equipped with a special flag, which signals the presence of correspondence inside. It simply rises if the box contains letters.
Options in the photo
Variations of mailboxes depend on the imagination of the owners
Street mailbox - addition to the ensemble of a country house
The outdoor mailbox should be in harmony with the design of the house
Some tips for making
In fact, the upcoming process is quite simple and anyone can make a beautiful mailbox with their own hands if they wish. In order for the result to exceed expectations, you should still adhere to some recommendations.
- When choosing lumber as side fasteners, choose corners that will give additional strength, in addition, if necessary, it will be possible to simply carry out restoration.
- The slot for correspondence, located at the top, requires additional protection from precipitation, made in the form of a special protective visor.
- The door for removing letters is most conveniently located at the bottom; it is better if it is hinged. If the door is placed on the front panel, then it is necessary to make accurate calculations so that cracks and cracks do not form during operation.
- The safety of all letters and newspapers will be ensured by a small but durable lock for the mailbox. It is best to attach the key to a common keychain.
- To protect yourself from a large amount of paper advertising, which is of no interest to the owners, it is recommended to make an additional table next to the mail.
In the form of a Prostokvashino house
Do you want to always be aware of new emails? You can make a homemade alarm in the box, which will signal that fresh press has arrived. To make it, you only need a sheet of thin plywood, a few wires, a battery, a light bulb and contact plates.
In addition, consider a few tips from designers:
- You can highlight the fencing of a house made of artificial stone with a mailbox of the same style and direction. Stick to a single color scheme to achieve a harmonious ensemble.
- A site far from the city, in a village, requires decoration in Provence or country style, so it is better to make the box from wood.
- On a forged fence that encloses the territory of a private house, it would be appropriate to place a metal mailbox with forged elements. They must repeat the pattern on the spans or gates.
For a small dacha sector, you can choose an original idea: a correspondence box made from improvised materials.
What types of home mailboxes are there?
Until recently, the traditional mailbox in our country looked like a rectangular or square flat box, which was attached to the house itself, closer to the entrance or to the fence.
Beautiful mailbox photo
All correspondence entered the mailbox through its upper part: if the opening was located at the top, then there was often a lifting lid above it to protect it from precipitation. But often the incision was located on the side, and the contents were pulled out at the bottom using an opening door. Such mailboxes almost always looked dull and boring, since in most cases they were all similar to each other, and there was nothing original in their design. In production, such boxes were most often made of metal; individual homeowners, in order to at least somehow distinguish themselves, made them with their own hands from wood.
Metal street mailbox photo
As for other countries, the most original and better known to us from films are the street mailboxes of America.
Their appearance is fundamentally different from their domestic counterparts; traditional American mailboxes resemble a chest with an end door. But it is worth saying that modern Americans are so keen on the decoration and original design of this attribute that it is almost impossible to find two identical boxes in private homes. This diversity is also generated by the fact that they often hold competitions for the most beautiful and original mailbox.
Original mailbox
Beautiful mailbox photo
A distinctive feature of the placement of an American street mailbox is that they usually attach it not to a fence or house, but rather it is fixed on a special stand along the road. This makes the postman’s work easier, since he no longer needs to approach every house. It is also worth saying that often on such a postal stand there is a sign with the house number; it can also be decorated in any way, and very often it looks very beautiful and is decorated in the same style as the box and the stand.
Street mailbox photo
Mailbox for a country house
It is also worth saying that American mailboxes provide another additional function; they are designed not only for receiving correspondence, but also for sending letters. Americans do not need to go to the post office every time to send a letter; they just need to put it in the mailbox and raise a special flag on it, signaling to the postman that there is a letter in the box to be sent. When the postman arrives, he sees the flag and picks up the letter for further sending.
Wooden mailbox photo
Mailbox photo
Manufacturing Instructions
Here are some common examples of making mailboxes that any craftsman can implement.
Plywood and wood
Wooden mailbox diagram
To work, first of all, you should collect and purchase all the materials and tools:
- sheet of veneer or thin plywood measuring 65x65 cm;
- sheet of plywood (9 mm) measuring 65x43.5 cm;
- timber (pine) measuring 100×7.5×5 cm;
- stainless steel piano hinge (13 cm);
- sandpaper (fine grain);
- mortise lock;
- screws;
- wood glue;
- colloidal silica;
- two-component epoxy adhesive.
Wooden diagram
The algorithm of actions is simple, so there should be no difficulties in the process.
- The beam is cut into three sections 33 cm long. Three lines are drawn on one beam: a central one and two transverse ones (the distance between them should be 30 cm). Using a pattern, draw a smooth curve. A cut is made along the line with a hacksaw, and the edge is cleaned. Using similar actions, the remaining two bars are processed.
- The prepared elements are glued together.
- The plywood sheet is cut into pieces according to the diagram below.
- The veneer sheet is cut into eight sheets measuring 32x16 cm. The finished elements are laid one by one on the concave section of the block and each is coated with a layer of epoxy glue. The first layer is laid on a pine block with a sheet of newspaper, and then sheets of veneer. It is important to check that all elements match in size and that there are no gaps.
- When the glue is completely dry, the prepared cover is sanded and adjusted to fit the front and back walls.
- Using a hacksaw, cut out a slot for mail and an opening for a door on the front wall.
- The width of the door is fixed to the hinge using screws.
- A place for the lock socket is selected and a keyhole is cut out.
- The lid is secured using glue to which colloidal silica is added.
- The door is installed, and the entire structure is completely cleaned with sandpaper.
The finished box is coated with varnish or paint, the house number is set and, after complete drying, it is fixed to the fence.
Cardboard box
Mailbox drawing
An original dollhouse-type mailbox, additionally decorated with lace, will become a bright accent and addition to any exterior of a country house. To make it you will need the following materials and tools:
- modeling cardboard 4 mm thick;
- drawer lock;
- PVA glue;
- paper tape;
- stationery tape.
Assembly
For decoration, special napkins for decoupage and acrylic paints are purchased: white, black and silver.
Decoration
Procedure:
- According to a pre-prepared diagram, we cut out all the necessary parts with a stationery knife.
- Pay attention to the part with the window: it is important not to cut the cardboard to the end. This will prevent ruptures.
- The folds are fixed with paper tape.
- The prepared parts are glued with PVA glue and the finished structure is left to dry.
- When the mailbox is dry, you can move on to decoration: to achieve the effect of antiquity, all external elements are covered with napkins and covered with black and white paint. The corners are finished in silver.
- Install a miniature lock on the door and complete the decoration with drawings cut out from decoupage napkins. The lid is decorated with lace.
From cardboard
All decorative elements should fit well and harmonize with each other, so you should compare them immediately.
How to make a mailbox with your own hands from wood
Having decided on the size and design, we begin production. A sketch drawing with the dimensions of the parts is applied to a sheet of paper. The action plan is as follows:
- determine the dimensions and draw a drawing;
- measure the required amount of materials;
- elements are cut to size;
- create a hole for correspondence;
- attach the end walls to the front and rear panels;
- attach the door to the hinges;
- install a lock;
- attach the finished product to the fence.
Tools and materials that may be needed to make a mailbox:
- wooden beam 1.5-2cm thick;
- stainless steel hinges;
- sandpaper for grinding and polishing;
- blowtorch for burning wood;
- drill, screwdriver;
- wood screws;
- corners for attaching walls;
- wood glue;
- epoxy adhesive;
- masking tape;
- saw or hacksaw;
- lock, handle.
Simple wooden mailbox
Action algorithm:
- Parts are cut out of the board according to the drawing: The mailbox consists of a back and front wall, 2 ends and a roof
- Connect the elements of the door, front and rear walls using wood glue so that there are no gaps left. Leave until completely dry for 1-3 days.
- The parts are polished and the dimensions are checked so that there are no gaps when connecting them. If the elements do not fit together, grind them.
- Cut a hole for correspondence.
- Connect the end, rear and front walls with self-tapping screws.
- The door is installed on hinges.
- They cut the lock.
- The mailbox is painted with paint or varnish that is resistant to natural precipitation and sunlight.
Advice!
To prevent the correspondence from getting wet, it is better to use wood for manufacturing with a width equal to the width of the product. If this is not possible, then the boards are connected into a groove so that gaps do not form. A homemade wooden mailbox is coated with varnish or paint that is resistant to natural precipitation.
The finished mailbox is attached to the fence
Antique wooden mailbox
Fashion dictates the design of not only clothing, but also the exterior and interior. Designers really like items made from aged wood. There are 2 ways to age timber:
- brushing;
- layer-by-layer coloring.
To brush the surface you will need:
- gas-burner;
- sanding brush;
- sandpaper;
- protective varnish.
Stages of work when brushing wood:
- The timber is fired using a burner at a medium fire level. Firing is carried out at an angle of 450 to the wood
- The block is carefully combed out using a brush and sanding sponges. Comb out burnt areas in the direction of the wood grain
- The elements are coated with moisture-proof varnish. Weather-resistant varnish will reliably protect the wood from rotting
The photo below shows an antique box:
The wood was aged using the brushing method.
Aging of timber using layer-by-layer staining is done by applying warm wax between layers.
The operating algorithm is simple:
- A layer of dark paint is applied to the prepared and primed wood surface.
- In some places where abrasions are expected, warm wax is partially applied. To do this, light a candle for 2 minutes before application.
- Cover with a layer of light paint.
- Using sandpaper or parchment, rub the paint so that abrasions are formed.
Carved wooden mailbox
Before starting to manufacture carved elements, assemble a box from timber with a cross-section of 1.5-2 cm. Stages of work:
- The slats are ground and cut to size.
Finished elements are coated with a layer of primer to ensure better adhesion - Assemble a box without a door. All joints are coated with moisture-resistant sealant for reliability.
- Using a router and a chisel, wood carving is performed. The finished door is attached to the frame. Hand tools for wood carving allow you to create unique masterpieces
Modern carpentry machines help make wood carvings of varying complexity. The program is loaded into the machine, the timber is laid and after some time a finished carved part is obtained.
A carved mailbox is made using various attachments on a router
Decorative wooden mailbox
There are many ways to decorate a mailbox. Using acrylic paints, patterns are applied and painted to resemble Gzhel. If the owner does not have artistic skills, various stencils and decoupage come to his aid.
Attention! To prevent the image from fading in the sun, it is applied to a carefully primed and sanded surface. After applying the pattern, the letter box is coated with 3-5 layers of moisture-resistant varnish.
The box was decorated with wooden slats imitating windows and doors of a house and painted in different colors
The letter box is decorated with beads, a flower garden is erected on the roof, and shells are glued to imitate the water element. The scope for creativity is inexhaustible.
Original DIY mailbox made of wood
Decoration is added to a product not only with the help of objects. The originality of the design can also be very attractive. They make correspondence boxes from logs, in the form of a well, or a hut on chicken legs. Decorated with wood bark.
The carved door is based on Russian fairy tales
Below are photos of wooden mailboxes made in various techniques and styles.
Mailbox made from a wooden frame Brushed timber is decorated with wooden latches A small mailbox is decorated with a large gable roof and the inscription “Mail” The giant box is decorated with forged hinges and a barn lock The box is made of an antique cuckoo clock
Mailbox mounting options
As already mentioned in the section on types of mailboxes, each type is installed in its own way. If you are undecided, then it is worth considering all installation options. Let's look at an example of several options for fixing simple mailboxes.
- Installation of the
box Fence. To do this, two cuts are made on the back of the mail. Next, using metal clamps or thick wire, fastening is carried out. It is very important to level the box at this stage. - Gates. It is not uncommon to see a mailbox attached directly to a gate made of metal or wood. Here you will also need to make holes in advance on the back panel and on the gate. Nuts and bolts are used as fasteners.
- Wall installation. As in the two previous methods, holes should be made both on the wall of the mailbox and on the wall. The structure is secured with small anchors or dowels - everything will depend on the thickness and type of wall surface.
If we are talking about a free-standing mailbox, then securing it will be quite simple: you need a platform, which is crowned with a pole.
Freestanding mailbox
In conclusion, I would like to note that if you have free time, the necessary material and imagination, you can make an original mailbox, the duplicate of which will not be available in the whole world. Such an element will complement the landscape design and will put the finishing touches on the decoration of the fence.
Materials and tools
A beginner can cope with the task and make a complex plastic mailbox. The costs for ideas are minimal. Every homeowner has the tools to make them. List of equipment and materials:
- plastic containers (the quantity depends on the design model), if you are building a homemade product with plastic additional elements for decoration, then you will need 5 liter plastic bottles and 4 pcs. 1.5 and 2 l each;
- a set of acrylic paints that are not afraid of moisture, they are sold both in tubes and in cans, the color variety is huge, so choosing suitable shades is not difficult, you also need a brush;
- instead of acrylic, you can choose spray paint;
- scissors, pencil or marker, quick-drying glue, stencil if symbols will be created;
- to install a mailbox from a plastic bottle with your own hands, you will need a wooden or steel rod; if a private yard is surrounded by a fence or the owner does not want to place the letter box outside the yard, then the structure can be made by attaching it near the gate, and cutting a gap 2-2 inches wide in the fence. 3 cm and 15 cm long.
You will have to spend money on buying paints, glue and bottles. The owner of the mansion probably has everything else.
Tin mailbox
This is a rather complex design that can only be completed by someone who has the skills to work with metal (welding). A set of tools is required (grinder, drill). You will need direct sheets of metal and rivets-fasteners. But this design will last much longer and looks very presentable.
As in the previous model, you need to equip the front wall with a handle and a lock. Additionally, before decorating, it is advisable to apply several layers of primer along the outer perimeter.
This homemade mailbox can be made in both classic and American style. It can be mounted either as a free-standing structure or on a fence.
Mailbox design and decoration ideas
With the removal of the Iron Curtain, our country actively began to master the culture and way of life of other countries, and therefore many things have been adopted from abroad today. So it is with street mailboxes, dull square and rectangular boxes are becoming less and less common. Increasingly, original options began to appear, more aesthetically designed, this is also facilitated by the widespread development of various industries, and creative thought has acquired complete freedom.
Mailbox for a private home
In connection with all this, very original mailboxes appeared, made of various materials. Most often today they are made of metal; forged mailboxes deserve special attention, which are made by hand; as a result, their design is often not repeatable and they look not only beautiful, but also solid. A good large home should have an equally good quality outdoor mailbox.
Forged mailbox photo
Metal mailbox photo
Many owners of country houses have a creative approach to the design of a mailbox and decorate it with their own hands, using all kinds of available means.
Very often, an ordinary brush and waterproof paint are used for this; with the help of them, if you have minimal artistic skills, you can apply any image you like to the mailbox; there are no limits to your imagination. Sometimes you can prepare a stencil for this to get a more accurate result.
DIY mailbox design
If you have the skills of a craftsman and you have carpentry tools, you can make an original mailbox with your own hands. A mailbox in the shape of a house will look very unusual, and it will be even more original if it is in the form of a miniature of the main house.
Mailbox house photo
Wooden mailbox
Often there are very original street mailboxes in the form of figures of various animals, plants, equipment, etc.
Below we invite you to familiarize yourself with the options for beautiful mailboxes
