Pimp My Mailbox

16 years ago

The county road grader had knocked our old mailbox over twice, so when we put it up this last time, we attached it to a considerably longer pole to clear the ditch and still reach the road. My husband and I pulled this beauty out of a an old country dump last year, rusted and smashed. It spent the better part of a year here and there as a decorative object in the yard before we found it a permanent home.

It's not *quite* finished; once the paint dries, I'll cut notches out of the rubber wheels so they'll fit and re-attach them. Still want to pick up a pair of those swell handlebar grips with streamers just to doll it up a bit. I might even add a basket later if I can find a nice vintage one.

On the construction side; we're going to notch a larger diameter pole to use as a brace just in front of the wheel where the thin bar is now. It won't actually be attached, just in case some unfortunate motorist should find themself barreling down on a collision course with our objet d'art. By leaving the second brace unattached, if it were hit, it should fall into the bar ditch as the mailbox swings out of the way rather than holding the whole thing rigidly in place to crash through someone's windshield. Hopefully, with the shiny aluminum paint and an antique truck reflector that shows up for half a mile, we'll never have to find out how well that would work, but it's always best to plan ahead.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:153400}}

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (23)

Purplemoon
16 years ago
That is just the neatest mailbox I've seen yet. LOVE it.
I hope no one hits it, you've certainly covered all bases in protecting it and them!
I swear, I never stop being amazed at the creative ideas on this Forum. Some great minds here!!!!

Karen
foxygrandma9
16 years ago
That is really a neat idea, I too hope no one hits it. It is just to fantastic to be distroyed.
Related Discussions
Pimp my exterior
Q
Comments (8)
Thanks for the quick responses! Palimpset: I don't need the walls or the screen enclosure functionally. I am seriously considering getting rid of the front screen enclosure. Getting rid of the walls scares me a bit, as they break up the front lawn from the front walk, and other garden "rooms", even though those room are terribly cluttered. olychick: I can't see your picture links. Can you re-post? The village we live in has color restrictions, I can't do anything crazy. South beach colors would likely get bounced. snookums2: I think we might have similar tastes. I was thinking of cleaning out the garden. And I can't tell if it would like better with the hedges or without. They are made of a slow growing plant, so have likely been there a long time. Taking the main hedge down a few feet is probably a good idea, to see how it looks with the walls exposed. Your window idea intrigues me. Can you educate me as to what you mean by "contemporary windowed peaks"? Thanks so much, your thoughts are really helpful.
...See More
please help me work with this ugly dog crate or.'pimp my doghouse
Q
Comments (15)
Oh I love Weimaraners! My first memory of a dog is our Weim Misty knocking me over (and over and over!) wanting to play when I was a toddler. Zeke is a handsome boy! You can have a door cut and rehung into a dutch door so that the top and bottom each have 2 hinges, then just don't hang the bottom. You can alway hang it if you want to pretty things up for a party or something. It would probably even store flat on top of the crate when you don't need it. Kind of an extreme solution but it's your house and if that would make things more pleasing for you, I say go for it. When it comes time to sell, replacing that door is not a big expense an you just do it before listing. oh - another thought!!! Take the door off all together and hang a portiere curtain instead. It's generally a dressier look but with a casual fabric it might work for your room Here is a link that might be useful:
...See More
Pimp my Kitchen..please help!
Q
Comments (9)
snoopy, if you want ideas for a redesigned kitchen, post a full layout with measurements, not only of the kitchen area but also the entire floor. Also, how many people will be living here, how do you cook, and how do you shop? More good information here for those considering remodels, https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5500754/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first#24573867 It's a long thread, so to see the "meat" of this thread, you need to see the first few posts, not the last 50 posts. Unfortunately, Houzz only shows the last 50 posts on a thread, so to see the real information in this thread, you will need to repeatedly select/click on "See xxx more comments" until you get to the first comments. (As of this bump, it says, "See 668 more comments".)
...See More
Pimp out my mudroom
Q
Comments (8)
So I've been browsing through Wayfair rugs till my eyes cross. I found one I like that has the colors @deegw suggested, tying in the warm floor tile. But it's wool and $254, so I cringe a bit at its intended use to wipe mud off our shoes. And choke at the price. Another option: 3 color variations on a theme: Would yellow work? Or green: Teal option (not enough different from blue?): Multicolor option: All of the above are cotton flatweave, so I could toss them in the washer when the mud starts to show.
...See More
TwoMonths
16 years ago
What a great idea. You can probably make tassles with some plastic cut in strips, fold in half and use a carter pin or bobbie pin to hold it and insert in the handlebars. I looks like the rubber part is already there?
craftylady-2006
16 years ago
That is so cute!!!
katladie
16 years ago
Very cute and so creative.
kudzukween
16 years ago
Good idea! Our mailbox gets hit pretty frequently by drunks and I have to pick up a lot of beer bottles and things people throw at it. I gave up buying new ones years ago, and just pick this one up out of the ditch and bang out the dents and repaint it,buy a new post if I have to,a new flag if needed. I think I'm going to repaint it purple this time!Every time I repaint it, the old man says "that's a nice target". Those little streamers would be the perfect touch for your bicycle!
luvstocraft
16 years ago
Turned out so cute, and looks like it should be out of the way of the road grader too. Good job. Luvs
TxMarti
16 years ago
That looks great! I love that little bicycle.
painterchic98
16 years ago
very good...I like that.
littledog
Original Author
16 years ago
Aw, thanks. It will make DH's day to read everyone's compliments. He didn't think I should post any pictures of it until it was completely done. I guess now if I finish the details in time, it can be our June POTM? :^)

It was definately a four handed project; I drug up stuff and said "how about this?", DH did the hot work welding it on. There's quite a pile of "goodies" laying around here that we thought about using; old wagon wheels, teapots and kettles, a rusted solid treadle sewing machine, a tractor seat, even some vintage heavy welded fencing that we could have built an oblisk to grow vines on, but the little bike won out. We both sweated and wrestled it out to the roadon a dolly, (it is *heavy*) and I've been painting on it when I can find a halfway clear 12 hours without rain.

kudzukween, the reason I think (hope) the mailbox will move if it's hit is that the pole is not cemented in the hole. We had two poles the same length (MOL 6 ft), and he just welded them together so it has a six foot arm on a six foot pole. The hole is packed with huge rocks, so it's stable, but in case of emergency, it should be able to swing out of the way. BTW, have you seen those twenty pound mailboxes that have a layer of diamond plate steel draped over the top? They're pricey, but I've heard they're supposed to be vandal proof.
littledog
Original Author
16 years ago
The very bottom of the pole has a tire wheel welded to it. The wheel isn't large enough to use as a base by itself, but once we piled the rocks on it, it worked like an anchor. Just a little FYI in case someone else is in the mood to pimp their mailbox too.
nonacook
16 years ago
I have bicycle tire wheels, and I bought 2 small bikes for $1 apiece last week....
bianchi2
16 years ago
OMG, I love this, especially since I'm a cyclist. I have to start looking for a little bicycle, never seen one of those. Too cute.
Bianchi
eileen_
16 years ago
I am coming in a tad late on this,....no pic...can you repoost it? Thanks, Eileen
des_arc_ya_ya
16 years ago
Yes, please repost. I'm just now getting here, too!
friesfan1
16 years ago
The link no longer works, can you please repost?
Thanks,
Mary
z 5b KS
littledog
Original Author
16 years ago
I figured this thread was too old for anyone to bother clicking the link and had taken the picture down.

It's back now, and works fine.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:153400}}
friesfan1
16 years ago
littledog,
Thanks so much for taking the time to put your picture
back up.
Now I know what everyone was raving about!

Good Job!

Mary
z 5b KS
njtomboy
16 years ago
nice job! very nice!!!!
leaveswave
16 years ago
I thought you were selling advertising space on your mailbox...
goldenpond
16 years ago
I love it! I would REALLY love a post of cute mailboxes as mine is in definate need of rehab.Its the dreaded ,,,oh I cant say it p-p-p-plastic!
swampy
16 years ago
That is great! In addition to the handlebar streamers don't forget one of those little baskets on the front of the little bike. A little white basket with flowers or maybe a stuffed puppy peeking out the top :D
Dottie B.
16 years ago
This is the cutest mailbox ever!!! Just awesome!

Pimp My Mailbox

Comments (23)

Purplemoon

foxygrandma9

Related Discussions

TwoMonths

craftylady-2006

katladie

kudzukween

luvstocraft

TxMarti

painterchic98

littledog
Original Author

littledog
Original Author

nonacook

bianchi2

eileen_

des_arc_ya_ya

friesfan1

littledog
Original Author

friesfan1

njtomboy

leaveswave

goldenpond

swampy

Dottie B.

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Pimp My Mailbox

Comments (23)

Related Discussions

littledogOriginal Author

littledogOriginal Author

littledogOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

littledog
Original Author

littledog
Original Author

littledog
Original Author