Do-it-yourself mailbox: step-by-step instructions, photos of original ideas, how to make it from wood and plywood, from scrap materials, bottles

Review author: Terrari School of Design

Any home is always marked with its own unique address, to which various correspondence is received. So that the addressee can receive it in a timely and convenient manner, there are special devices - mailboxes, where letters, receipts and newspapers are neatly folded.

If in apartment buildings these products are made in a single standard style and are part of the overall system in the entrance, then in private homes the postal devices are absolutely individual and exclusive.

Features of a mailbox for home

Most often, a mailbox in a country house is located on the street near the entrance to the territory. Therefore, it is subject to some requirements that are not always relevant for access products:

fasteners must be especially reliable and resistant to corrosion;
the mail opening must have a protective canopy against precipitation and road dust;
the door for removing correspondence should be located at the bottom of the product and have a hinged design so that small letters, receipts and postcards do not fall out when opened;
It is advisable to equip the box with a locking mechanism to protect it from outsiders;
In order not to interfere with mail and advertising brochures, you can install a small table or shelf next to the box.

A street mailbox, as a rule, is one of the elements on the front side of the estate, so it is advisable to combine its design with the design of the facade and fence.

You can purchase a standard design at a hardware store, but it will be much more interesting to try to make the thing yourself.

Exclusive products can enliven and decorate the local area - this is proven by colorful photos of hand-made mailboxes.

General recommendations for making letter boxes

When planning to make a functional structure with your own hands, every owner wants it to last for more than one season without losing its attractiveness for as long as possible. Therefore, when creating a durable letter box, you should adhere to a number of basic recommendations:

It is advisable to install a canopy over the slot for lowering correspondence, which will protect the contents of the container from rain and snow.
The door for removing letters can be placed both on the front panel and in the bottom wall of the structure. With the first arrangement option, it is important to accurately calculate the dimensions of the hole and door in order to prevent the formation of cracks through which moisture will enter. When planning to place the door in the bottom wall, it is better to make this entire part of the box folding.
When building a wooden box, it is better to fasten all structural elements using corners. This will increase the strength of the structure and greatly facilitate future repairs.
Do not forget to provide a lock, the installation of which will prevent possible attacks by thieves on correspondence.

Some craftsmen equip their mailboxes with a simple alarm system. It is activated by contact plates, which can be taken from an old magnetic relay or telephone switch.

To equip a mailbox with an alarm system, you need to make an additional bottom in the container, which can be cut out of plywood or plastic, and then placed on springs.

The additional bottom is placed in such a way that the lower edge is attached directly to the box, and the upper edge rests on springs, between which contacts are placed that react to the box being filled with correspondence

As soon as the contacts are closed, a light bulb connected to them by wires, which is already installed in the house, lights up and thereby signals the arrival of new correspondence.

Variety of models

Before you start making a mailbox, you need to think about its dimensions and design, decide on materials and location. If this is not just a design element, but an active device, it should be positioned so as to provide convenient access for both the postman and the owners.

Products can be presented in different images and forms, but three main types can be distinguished: traditional, American and English.

Multifunctionality of a plywood box

A variety of products are sold in hardware stores; they can be used to store vegetables, transport tools and other things. Of course, you can buy them, but it’s much nicer to do the work yourself. The main thing is to initially decide on the type and design of such a container.

Plywood is often used as a material because it is aesthetically pleasing, durable and easy to process. A plywood structure can withstand the heaviest loads, and if you need to carry or store really heavy things, you can use a thicker sheet of plywood. Products made from such raw materials can be used in various fields.

American mailbox

This type of device for receiving mail has the same design, but a different design. The American model looks like a trailer with an opening end. The space inside is quite narrow, so large correspondence has to be rolled up.

The main feature of the design is a special flag, which, when raised, indicates that there are letters in the box that require sending. American mail carriers are responsible for collecting letters and mailing them.

American-style mailboxes are installed on a separate wooden or metal post.

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 a door at the bottom
Now let's look at the main types of mailboxes, which are divided by 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 mailbox

At the entrance to country houses in Great Britain, stationary structures are installed in the form of a massive brightly colored cabinet with a table. The material used to make this stylish and beautiful mailbox is brick or metal.

The product is made in the form of a poster stand, a miniature telephone booth or a house model, harmoniously combined with the architecture.

Master class #1: designer cardboard box

A chic mailbox, decorated with elegant lace and looking like a dollhouse, can act as a bright accent in the exterior of a country house.

To make such a cute “house” we will need:

Cardboard for modeling (4 mm thick);
Drawer lock;
PVA construction adhesive (or hot glue with a heat gun);
Paper tape and a stationery knife.

We will decorate the box using decoupage napkins, as well as acrylic paints in white, black and silver.

We apply the template to a sheet of cardboard, transfer the dimensions of all the design details, and then cut them out with a knife

When making a window, it is important not to cut the cardboard to the end, this will prevent tears. It is advisable to secure the bend points with paper tape.

We glue all the parts of the box using hot glue or construction PVA, leave the box until completely dry

The box is ready, let's start decorating.

To create a visual effect of antiquity, we cover the outer surface of the box with napkins, and then cover it with black and white paint, finishing the corners with a silver tint.

All that remains is to install a miniature lock on the door, stick the selected napkins for decoupage and decorate the roof with lace ribbon

An original designer box, made by yourself, will become a memorable calling card of any suburban area.

Design options

This type of product includes original mailboxes, made with your own hands from improvised materials and common household items: plastic bottles, boxes or containers.

Any durable and waterproof material can serve as the basis for an exclusive item, and step-by-step instructions will tell you how to make a mailbox with your own hands.

Photo

In the form of a house

With forged parts

With a pattern Wooden mailbox covered with stain Decoupage mailbox

Decoration

Wooden house

American Mailbox
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Self-production

Having decided on the installation location, shape and dimensions of the structure, you need to decide what material the mailbox will be made from. Factory products sold in stores are most often made of metal.

However, not all home craftsmen have welding skills and have the necessary equipment, so the best option for creating a device for correspondence is wood.

To make a mailbox you will need:

wooden blocks and thin board;
fasteners;
hand power tool.

The following steps should be followed:

Find a suitable drawing or make it yourself.
In accordance with the drawing, prepare box parts of the required sizes from boards and bars.
A hole for mail must be made in advance either on the lid or in the upper part of the front wall, equipping it with a protective visor.
The hinged door is also prepared in advance. It is attached to the product using hinges and is equipped with a lock.
Next, the box is assembled using bars and fasteners.

The finished design is the basis for an exclusive item. To turn a simple object into a work of art, you need to decorate it.

You can use anything you like to decorate your mailbox: natural material, toys, Christmas tree garlands and much more.

The final stage of work is installation of the product. Usually it is mounted on the fence from the outside or inside. The main thing is that the item is clearly visible and accessible.

A beautiful and original hand-made mailbox can decorate the entrance area of any country house, delighting the owners and lifting the spirits of passers-by.

Paper product

Some people do not want to make a product out of cardboard, but also adhere to simplicity in manufacturing. For such people, another material is suitable - paper. It is very easy for any decorative and applied works. So how to make a mailbox out of paper? It is recommended to use thick paper so that it does not sag or wrinkle. We will make a mailbox similar to those that are widely used abroad. That is, semi-oval in shape. The algorithm of actions will be as follows:

Lay out a sheet of thick paper in front of you. On it you need to measure two strips, 15 centimeters wide. The length of the blanks should be 30 centimeters.
In the first strip, round the edges on both sides into a semi-oval.
Place the first strip directly in front of you. Measure 8 centimeters from its two edges. And fold the two edges. This will be the back of the mailbox and its door.
The second strip needs to be turned into an oval box lid. Glue all the parts to each other.
If desired, you can cut out a lock for the door from cardboard and decorate the finished box in different ways.

The product is ready!

DIY photo of a mailbox

Materials and tools

Strong and reliable boxes are created from wood-laminated boards.
Multilayer raw materials are obtained by gluing thin natural veneer. Due to the application of several layers of glue, the material does not crack or deform. The product retains the characteristics of wood, while being much cheaper. The thickness of plywood varies from 2 mm to 3 cm. Too thin varieties are easily bent, so they are only suitable for modeling. To ensure that the structure lasts a long time, craftsmen combine slabs of different parameters. Options 6-8 mm are used to create walls and box lids. The bottom must withstand the maximum load, so thick elements are used - from 9 mm or more.

The practicality and decorativeness of the boxes depends on the type of material from which the plywood is made. 3 varieties are suitable for boxes:

Working with plywood is very convenient even for novice carpenters. The raw material can be easily cut with a hacksaw or electric jigsaw. Multi-layer veneer does not crumble under a drill bit. Thin parts can be connected to each other with glue or staples from a furniture stapler; thick parts can be screwed with self-tapping screws or nailed.

When sawing sheets and drilling holes, uneven cuts and sharp edges are left. I recommend cleaning a small surface of plywood with sandpaper. It is faster to process a large box or several products with a grinding machine.

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Warm floorBatteries

Before you make a plywood box with your own hands, you need a drawing with exact dimensions. A schematic representation of the parts is transferred to wood using a pencil and a ruler, and then cut out. I advise you to first assemble complex designs from cardboard, and then repeat them on veneer.

Expert opinion

Strebizh Viktor Fedorovich, leading construction foreman

Mailboxes that have been approached with an individual design approach will look very interesting and very unusual on your site. If you want to clarify something, please contact me!