Traditional mailboxes for receiving correspondence are seldom very original. The familiar blue metal boxes, decorated with miniature hinged clasp can, and can satisfy the simple taste of its owner, but the creative eye of the owner will probably consider them a fertile basis for the creation of original piece of the exterior. Ideas on how to make a mailbox that you can borrow from the neighbors fences which adorn the original and at the same time, functional containers, or use as the basis for variants of the arrangement described in our article.
The contents
What are all the mailboxes?
Planning to make a mailbox for a private house, which will serve not only for the direct purposes but also act as a harmonious complement the architectural ensemble of the suburban area, you should decide particularly with its shape and size. The style boxes for the reception of the correspondence can be divided into three main types.
Option #1 — traditional box
Box to receive correspondence most often placed near the main entrance to the station, hanging on the wall of a building, gate or fence. Originally decorated the exterior will always attract the attention of passers-by and guests.
Familiar to many of us mailboxes, which became widespread in the post-Soviet spaces are vertically placed box equipped with a slit for letters and Newspapers
Option #2 — English style
Mailbox, made in the form of tables-table set directly on the ground, positioning him for a few steps to the main entrance.
Functional design that looks like a house in miniature, often made of durable metal, or spread from a brick
Option #3 — drawer, American-style
Set these boxes on a separate support, which acts as a metal or wooden rod, or a decorative figure. Boxes are normally equipped with a special flag that is raised by the owner in that case, if the box has the letters that the postman needs to pick up and to send.
The design of the boxes for the reception letters and journals of the American sample of the same type horizontally placed containers with semi-circular roof and side doors. But their decoration is often boggles the imagination
As the basis for creating boxes, decorated in an unusual design decision, there may be all sorts of household items
General guidelines for the manufacture of boxes for letters
Planning the fabrication of functional structures with their own hands, every owner wants that lasts more than one season, without losing its appeal as long as possible. Therefore, when you create a durable letter box you should observe some basic guidelines:
- Above the slit for inserting the correspondence, it is desirable to equip a visor that will protect the contents of the container from falling drop of rain and snow.
- The door for removing letters can be placed on the front panel and the bottom wall of the structure. In the first variant of the arrangement it is important to accurately calculate the sizes of the hole and the door to prevent the formation of cracks, through which will get wet. Planning to place the door in the bottom wall, the better this whole part of the box to do folding.
- During the construction of the wooden box all the elements of design to better adhere using angles. This will increase the strength of the design and will greatly facilitate the fixation of the subsequent.
- Do not forget to include the clasp, the installation of which will allow you to prevent possible attacks of thieves correspondence.
Some people equip their mailboxes the simplest alarm system. It is powered through the contact plates, which can be taken from the old magnetic relay or a telephone switch.
To equip the mailbox alarm system, the container must make the additional bottom, which can be cut from plywood or plastic and then place it on the springs.
Additional the bottom of the post so that the bottom edge was fastened directly to the box, and the top was based on spring, between which are located the contacts, responsive to the content of the mail box
As soon as the contacts closed, connected them with wires light bulb which is already installed in the house lights up and indicates thereby the arrival of new correspondence.
Master class #1: a designer box of cardboard
Chic Inbox, decorated with delicate lace and looks like a Dollhouse can be a bright accent in the exterior of a country house
For making this cute «house» we need:
- Cardboard for modeling (thickness 4 mm);
- Lock for drawer;
- Construction glue (or a hot melt);
- Paper tape and a box cutter.
To decorate the box will be using napkins for decoupage and acrylic paints in white, black and silver.
The pattern applied to the sheet of cardboard, transfer the dimensions of all the parts of the design, and then cut them with a knife
In the manufacture of carton box, it is important not to cross to the end, this would prevent gaps. Place the bend it is desirable to fix paper tape
All the details of the glue box with hot melt adhesive or construction PVA, leave the box to dry completely
The box is ready, proceed to registration.
To create the visual effect of antiquity the outer surface of the box paste a napkin, and then covered the black and white paint, while finishing the corners of a silver tint
It remains only to set the door of the miniature castle, pasting the selected napkins for decoupage and decorate the roof of the lace tape
Original designer box made with your own hands, will be a memorable hallmark of any suburban area.
Master class #2: option mailbox from plywood
Besides cardboard, you can make something stronger. For example a wooden box.
Cute mailbox out of wood perfectly fit into the suburban landscape: looking like a makeshift house for birds, it will be appropriate to complement the exterior
For making this mailbox you will need materials:
- Pine timber 1000х75х50 mm;
- A piece of plywood 650х435 mm thickness 9 mm;
- A sheet of thin plywood the size of 650х650 mm;
- Piano hinge 130 mm (stainless steel) and mortise lock.
Tools will be needed:
- The jigsaw;
- Glue for woodwork;
- Nails or screws;
- Sandpaper.
A wooden beam cut crosswise into three parts, each with a length of 330 mm. On each piece of the proposed Central and lateral lines, keeping the distance between them is 300 mm. along the planned path with the templates to draw the curve, which in the next cut the curve. In all three blanks carefully clean the edge and then glue them together.
From sheets of thin plywood should be 8 identical workpieces size mm. 320х160 To prevent cracks in the structures before bonding simply have to attach the elements to each other and to see if they match. The leaves are spread in layers on the concave side of the block, carefully promazyvaya each layer with glue. After complete drying, the roof remains carefully sanded and attach the box using the same glue.
According to the scheme with the specified dimensions carefully cut out the remaining details for the mailbox from sheets of plywood
In front wall drawer cut out the opening for the doors and a crack for faceoff correspondence. The door is nailed or screwed to a piece of piano hinge and cut the keyhole for decorating the castle. Installing the door, carefully clean the entire box and then covered with a layer of paint or varnish.
Video clip with other examples from designers
