DIY Modern Wood Mailbox | Removed The Old One With My CAR!

Find the PLANS for this mailbox here: bit.ly/3uX0kT4
In this Maker Gray tutorial I'm showing you how to DIY and build your own modern mailbox from cedar from the big box store. I built a small concrete slab to support the mailbox posts, but you can also just put the posts in the ground if you prefer to skip this step. I also have a full set of build plans, with the cut lists and materials lists below :)
Find more outdoor projects here: bit.ly/3ttNBqI
Find all my build plans here: bit.ly/3BQhp4X
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Thanks so much to Total Boat for sponsoring this video! Check out all the awesome products they offer here (and save 5% with this link!): www.totalboat.com/makergray
Things I used in this video:
Concrete Float: rivr.link/MRG-iv_v4H
Concrete Edger: rivr.link/MRG-cdqCem
Galvanized Standoff Post Anchor: bit.ly/3SryJqD
Plastic Mixing Tub: bit.ly/482zV9B
Miter Saw: rivr.link/MRG-wS-8Yj
Circular Saw: rivr.link/MRG-8OeNdc
Post Level: rivr.link/MRG-MbaS2U
Clamps: rivr.link/MRG-6yD9se
Pocket Hole Jig: rivr.link/MRG-pDR_MV
Jigsaw: rivr.link/MRG-eRuW-e
Drill: rivr.link/MRG-Yy_lz9
Driver: rivr.link/MRG-x-Fhjc
Sander: rivr.link/MRG-LsRasQ
Mailbox: bit.ly/3OuB8Q8
Right Angle Drill: bit.ly/3UzojYm
Forstner Bit: rivr.link/MRG-GNC-aE
Wood Finish: bit.ly/40cmkJR
Wood Glue: rivr.link/MRG-ZJhJe2
Maker Gray Shirts! bit.ly/3BOuKKM
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Thanks for watching!
Erin Longfellow
www.makergray.com
I'm Erin Longfellow and I'm a maker, DIYer, builder, designer and content creator. My goal is to help you learn that you too can build or DIY what I make, or anything you need, with easily acessible tools and materials. On this channel you're going to find different builds and designs with a modern emphasis that are DIY friendly, mostly through woodworking, metalworking, construction and home renovations. Be sure to subscribe and enable all notifications! And thanks for watching!
#makergray #modernmailbox #DIY

[@MakerGray]

Find the plans to build your own here! bit.ly/3uX0kT4 And find more of my Outdoor Projects here: bit.ly/3ttNBqI Thanks for watching!

[@kellmerWF52]

My dad was an engineer, he built his back patio. It was beautiful. I love your stuff, but this mailbox is not my style. Keep up the great work. i'm fascinated by your talent

[@inspired916]

We bought these plans off of Etsy and were not disappointed at all! They were so well written, everything was laid out, all the tools used, color-coded the cuts, provided all the measurement's (in the same color code), it was so well written and easy to follow. Having a video was amazing also!

[@MakerGray]

This is wonderful! Thank you soooo much! If you don't mind, I'd love for you to leave a review on Etsy so others there can know your experience. Thank you again and enjoy the mailbox! :)

[@pinksoulstudios]

Yassssss! Put some safety cones around it when Justin comes over!!

[@MakerGray]

🤣 Got em!

[@enriquefausto5436]

It sure comes to life when you add the Varnish, nice job.👍👍💪💪

[@MakerGray]

Doesn't it?! Thank you!

[@skysharksingh]

Thanks for sharing this for free. I watch many DIY videos and noticed I enjoyed you because you explain really well. Your video edit works is excellent as well. Great work thanks

[@MakerGray]

I really appreciate that 🙏🏼 Thank you! Lots more to come!

[@lucyho2]

Love the hitch idea! It works for stump removal too

[@MakerGray]

Yeah! More fun too 😄

[@TotalBoat]

It came out amazing!! Such a beautiful design and build!

[@MakerGray]

Thanks Total Boat! Loved using your finish to make this beauty look great and last!

[@DesignCraftWorkshop]

Love the design and how it turned out! I'll be referring back once I get to doing my mailbox

[@MakerGray]

Thank you Bao! 🙏🏼

[@pat4145]

looks great and you have all the tools !!!

[@ku3758]

So cool! Great job and thanks to April for linking!

[@MakerGray]

Thank you so much!

[@FredMcIntyre]

Looks awesome, great job Erin! 😍👍🏻📪👊🏻

[@MakerGray]

Thank you, Fred! 😁

[@BYOTools]

Great build! Planing on doing one for my own house in the very near future. Keep up the great work on your channel.

[@MakerGray]

Thanks so much Brent!

[@iainf6]

Excellent job Erin, looks so good 👌😉💕

[@MakerGray]

Thank you Iain!

[@lisasizemore9928]

Thanks for the video for the BEAUTIFUL mailbox!

[@MakerGray]

Thank you!!

[@whiskeybusiness419]

Just finished our project this weekend. Love it!!

[@MakerGray]

Wonderful!!

[@bettenotap4791]

Very nice! It really suits the style of your home.

[@MakerGray]

Thank you! 😊

[@SmallFryCreations]

Great build Erin!! Awesome voice over and explaining!! I love those American style letters boxes!! Very cool!!

[@MakerGray]

Thank you so much, Ainslee!! Appreciate you watching 😊

[@ahmadgondal732]

Very thorough and detailed. Thank you for sharing.

[@MakerGray]

Thank you for watching!

[@tweston315]

Great tutorial 👌🏾. I've been planning to build this for a year. I have everything that I did and you gave me the encouragement to get it done!! Thank you so much!!

[@MakerGray]

Awesome I'm so glad! Thank you, and enjoy the new mailbox!

[@SteveC38]

That came out great!

[@MakerGray]

Thank you! I'm so happy with it!

[@radchander]

One word “beautiful.”

[@peterslegers6121]

Nice project! It could also display your house number or some advertisement for a business. If it sat on your own property, you could use some LEDs to light up the driveway, and hide a power outlet so you can easily mow the lawn or cut a hedge. One tip: when you put rebar in concrete, be sure to leave a 4 cm (1,5 inch) space from rebar to outer edge. You can simply shorten your rebar by 3 inches and center align it length wise. If you put rebar closer to the outside of the concrete, it is vulnerable for rust a.k.a. concrete rot.

[@MakerGray]

Thanks! Definitely adding house numbers on the side. Thanks for the concrete tip!

[@johnlee7085]

Actually, it’s 3” of cover between rebar and ground, 1” to the air.

[@JohnCena-cz6gj]

Looks awesome! I think adding your house numbers to the post would also look great.

[@MakerGray]

Thanks! Yep, I do too. Adding them soon!

[@WorksbySolo]

Nice work Erin. Personally, I love cedar for anything around the house. Keep showing off that horse power and you'll have a General Motors sponsorship in no time!

[@MakerGray]

Hahaha thanks Bernie!

[@prezaricardo1749]

I liked.. little late to me looking this video but keeping in mind for any near future ..

[@audleyboyd1]

Great look. Pad is going to lift if your in cold weather climate though

[@drewpollock3257]

Could you just,,,,build it around the existing mailbox?? I know that's not how you did it, but if you have one with a wooden post, couldn't you just attach the side boards to the original post, and then attached the front/back panels to those?

[@johnlee7085]

Yes. Especially if it’s a wooden post that is not rotted. You might want to add a second post. Sometimes though, retrofitting can be more challenging.

[@alfandeddie]

Would’ve been a more creative video.

[@EthanCarterDesigns]

Wow, that is a huge upgrade for sure! Love the design and fantastic video as always Erin!

[@MakerGray]

Thank you so much, Ethan!! Appreciate it :)

[@enoughisenough4600]

Good job

[@MakerGray]

Thanks!

[@elizj713]

Nice job

[@MakerGray]

Thanks!

[@Soknik01]

Years ago I had to replace a fence with an old timer who showed me a wonderful trick for removing posts with concrete footings. Rather than digging all around each post he just dug a hole right beside the post on one side until he was a couple inches deeper than the concrete footing at the base of the old post. Once he had this hole dug he just pushed the fence post over toward the direction of the new hole. Posts tipped right over and the concrete footing fell right into the new hole. All that was left to do is pluck it right out. Hope this helps one of you as much as it's helped me.

[@MakerGray]

Thanks for the tip!

[@elpapaupa838]

Looks nice I would of gave the boards a round over for a look

[@MakerGray]

That'd also be a nice look. Thanks!

[@Kkuts37]

NICE!

[@MakerGray]

Thanks!!

[@carlosnolasco252]

Te quedó bien chido

[@SteveP-vm1uc]

Until I could see the houses around yours, I thought you were my neighbor as I just noticed the same mailbox setup on the next street from us.

[@KayDurrant]

I gotta do this one

[@MakerGray]

I hope you do! Don't forget I have build plans to help :) bit.ly/3uX0kT4

[@dzengen]

Отлично ! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@McIntyreFurniture]

Looks so good, thanks for sharing the process.

[@MakerGray]

Thank you so much for watching, Kim!

[@kathyparra2605]

Great explanation! Question? Are those pickets stainable?

[@MakerGray]

They sure are. You can stain to any color you like. Thanks for watching!

[@craigmaddison8254]

Looks great, we don't have these in the U.K, the post goes through the letter box in the front door, always wondered if you ever get your post stolen?

[@MakerGray]

Thanks! I've heard of that happening, but it's very rare. Never has happened to me, thank goodness.

[@johnlee7085]

Package deliveries are the robbery problem. Not as much letters and such in the mail.

[@christellelefaucheur6062]

how big are the bags of quickrete? thanks!

[@johnlee7085]

60 or 80 pounds.

[@strandloper]

Is there still a lot of traditional mail in the US? Here in South Africa virtually all business mail is now via email and we can go months with nothing in our mailbox besides advertising flyers. I think there is only mail delivery (by postmen on bicycles) once or twice a week now as there just isn't enough mail to warrant them delivering more often,

[@MakerGray]

Wow that is interesting! Yes, we are very much still a physical traditional mail system here in the US.

[@chrisusher7144]

😂I drag every thing with my Navagtor.. round bales wet carpet the horses had panel fence I g you should have kept going to where you going to dump it ..🖐️👍girl power

[@MakerGray]

😂💪🏼

[@lavishlex]

My problem is my mailbox sits by the ditch so the ground is sloped. How would I fix that?

[@johnlee7085]

Dig out the side of the ditch to create a level bottom, then use plywood or something like that to make a taller form. Depending on how tall the concrete becomes, you will either want to add more rebar vertically, or better yet just get fiber reinforced concrete. Especially with it being in a ditch, I’d recommend building it deeper into the ground also. 6” to 12”; like the foundation that was removed. Also, smear some oil (cooking or motor) on the forms before filling with the concrete and tap on the form boards with a hammer, mallet, or misc piece of wood a lot after the concrete is placed. This will get rid of air bubbles and produce a smoother surface.

[@dsilvadoray]

Nicee

[@c.518]

Great job. Did you go to school for this or have an awesome dad or grandpa who taught you?

[@MakerGray]

Thank you! I'm completely self taught! I've learned a lot from watching other KZbin videos over the years.

[@keytothegate68]

Nice. You could be selling these as pre made kit

[@MakerGray]

Maybe one day! Thanks!

[@HairKingBlake]

Do recall the total cost of this project?

[@MakerGray]

I don't, sorry about that! I do remember that it was a relatively inexpensive project.

[@johnlee7085]

Concrete is about $4 a bag. Post base about $10 each. 8 fence pickets at about $3 each. Figure $10 for screws. The Total Boat would be the expensive item, though you could also use an exterior penetrating oil for about $50 a gallon and have enough to last a lifetime.

[@johnlee7085]

$100-ish

[@Straight0uttaCrofton]

i just watched another channel build this and pretend like it was their idea

[@JoTheVeteran]

I won't lie, this does look nice, but it takes so much space compared to the previous one. I thought the wooden construction was a storage of shorts, for many packages, but it's just suporting the mailbox. Definitely not my cup of tea.

[@buttsnorkeler9756]

what are you using that space for?

[@JoTheVeteran]

@@buttsnorkeler9756 Lawn? Or simply empty space. I don't find a brick pillar appealing.

[@firebirdlover4460]

@@JoTheVeteran fair enough, but this is actually a very popular style for mid-century modern homes. So, it's really more of an aesthetic thing for a certain type of home.