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GAFarmer
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Loc: Coolidge, Ga
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Protecting the Mailbox
11/02/06 03:39 PM
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Do ya'll think it's possible to build a metal cage to protect a mailbox? We keep getting mailbox smashers around here and they are killing our mailbox. And the police never do anything about it. Please help before I go broke buying mailboxes!!!!!!! 
"I hate lucky people, unless I happen to be the lucky person."- Cody Rehberg
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GAFarmer
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Loc: Coolidge, Ga
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: GAFarmer]
11/02/06 03:41 PM
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I'm sorry. Could a mod please move this to the outdoor section? Sorry.
"I hate lucky people, unless I happen to be the lucky person."- Cody Rehberg
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LazyJ_Arabians
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: GAFarmer]
11/02/06 06:57 PM
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I just saw this over on TBN and it got me to thinking "outside the box"
John Deere Mailbox
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rcaretti
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: GAFarmer]
11/03/06 01:34 PM
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When we built our place in a somewhat remote location off a dirt/gravel road, I didn't initially notice the neighbor had a very heavy duty welded mailbox that they obviously had made for the same issues you are having.
So far, we've had our mailbox ripped out of the ground, mail tampered with, etc.
We did end up buying a box that can take a little more abuse than the average box, but will have to get something made if the mailbox smashers really get serious.
The problem you run into is that I don't think it's really legal to use a box that won't break-away when hit by a car.
It's sad, but I agree with you that the postal service and police don't want to be bothered following up on this type of thing..
I have thought about getting a square solid steel box made to insert into a standard mailbox. That would be an unplesant surprise to the would be box smasher...
Edited by rcaretti (11/03/06 01:35 PM)
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GaryM
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: rcaretti]
11/03/06 01:48 PM
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I'm pretty sure it's been mentioned here before, but one suggestion was to suspend a smaller mailbox inside of a larger one and fill the space in between with concrete.
Be a shock to whoever was wielding a ball bat!
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
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GAFarmer
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: GAFarmer]
11/04/06 12:52 PM
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Thanks for the info guys.
"I hate lucky people, unless I happen to be the lucky person."- Cody Rehberg
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rfawkes
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: GAFarmer]
11/05/06 05:37 AM
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I really don't understand the thrill these kids get from destroying mail boxes, but it is a continuing problem for me and for neighbors up and down the road. We go a couple of years with no problem, them the cycle starts over. I have a metal box on a rotating base that precludes some of the damage, as the box spins when hit. I pound the dents out as well as possible, and replace when it won't hold mail anymore.
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rozett
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: rcaretti]
11/05/06 06:33 PM
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In reply to:
The problem you run into is that I don't think it's really legal to use a box that won't break-away when hit by a car.
I'd be interested in understanding where this requirement comes from. I have seen many mailboxes built into brick columns and other substantial structures. 
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Bird
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: rozett]
11/05/06 07:33 PM
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It just depends on state and local laws and regulations, depending sometimes on what kind of road you are on. Down in the country, we had our mailbox set on a heavy steel pipe set in concrete. It was there when we bought the place, but we were on a county road and I learned that the only regulation was whatever access the mail carrier wanted. Then my brother bought 10 acres in the same area, but on a state (farm to market) road. He bought the mailbox, but could not put his own post. The state sent a man out to set a breakaway post for the mailbox. And now I'm back in town and my mailbox is in one of those approx. 2' square brick pedestals.  The odd thing to me is that mine is the only brick pedestal on this street although there are several others in the neighborhood.
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rozett
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: Bird]
11/06/06 06:41 PM
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Thanks, Bird. I guess things are different here on the east coast.  I had never heard of any regulations regarding mounting of mailboxes, other than setting the height to insure in-vehicle access by the USPS.
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Handyman
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: rozett]
11/08/06 01:09 PM
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Yes you can...
There is a new mail box down the road from me that has a cage around the outside that looks like was made from rebar and welded together.
It looks like that just bent the bars to conform the box like a horse shoe and then welded at the bottom... Looks good.
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jimbrown
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: Bird]
11/08/06 02:03 PM
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Yep that is the way it is here you can build any kind of box you want as long as the contract carrier likes it. Only problem I have is no one wants the contract so i got to drive 20 miles to town to get my mail.
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GAFarmer
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: Handyman]
11/08/06 03:46 PM
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Actually, I finally found the local regs and it's different here. In the county, it is OK as long as the postman approves it. However, in town (as far as I can find) it has to be US postal approved and is supposed to be able to break off if hit hard. So, I guess that those brick surrounds should be illegal, but I still see them around. That re-enforces a previous point I made on another post somewhere:
Zoning Officials + $$$ = Anything you want
"I hate lucky people, unless I happen to be the lucky person."- Cody Rehberg
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Bird
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: GAFarmer]
11/09/06 07:43 AM
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In reply to:
I guess that those brick surrounds should be illegal, but I still see them around.
I know they have made them illegal in some places, but I each time they have done that, they "grandfathered" the existing ones; i.e., just can't build any new ones.
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Logan
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: Bird]
11/23/06 12:22 AM
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In GA new mailboxes on state and us highways must be the break away type. On other roads you can put up about anything.
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GAFarmer
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: Logan]
12/10/06 08:59 AM
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Hmmm, thanks Logan. I do believe I may have to have a little longer talk with the zoning officials....
"I hate lucky people, unless I happen to be the lucky person."- Cody Rehberg
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thintze
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: GaryM]
04/07/07 07:45 PM
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I did big and small mailbox filled with concrete at my previous residence. We and our neighbors had the mailboxes smashed three times and sheriff couldn't catch the culprits. If you do this it takes three 50# bags of concrete and a strong neighbor to help lift it onto the post.
I moved from that mailbox 6 years ago but recently I drove past and noticed that all the neighbors boxes were smashed and the one I put together was turned slightly. None after it were smashed! I guess I got my revenge!!!
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Pat
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: thintze]
04/08/07 09:29 AM
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I was just fantasizing about designing a rig to mount to your mailbox that would catch the club/bat and latch in such a fashion that you couldn't get it free my normal means. The "borrowed" bat might be suitable for dusting for prints.
Alternatively: There are motion and vibration detectors that are used in automotive alarm systems. One of these mounted at the back of the box wired to a remote camera aimed to get the license of the car carrying the idiots would provide evidence to be used to halt the problem. Previoius damage should show the direction of travel of the vehicle so you can remote the camera far enough away to get the lisc and maybe a shot of the bozo too.
I smile thinking about a full automatic paint ball gun firing on the vehicle carrying the club swinger. A simpler version would be a spray nozzle like used on spray rigs and a quart of paint in a pressurized container with an electric solenoid valve to fire when the shock sensor detected the club hit. Fast drying paint is recommended. Now then how do you explain to your dad how the interior and exterior of the family sedan got painted bright day glow fluorescent orange along with you and your two buddies who were going to the library to study?
I recall that the son of my dad's boss attached a chain to a mailbox and to the back bumper of his dads car. Strong mailbox! Bumper pulled half off of the car!
Pat
Pat 
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
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egon
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: Pat]
04/08/07 10:09 AM
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Make that paint balls filled with mercaptan.
Egon
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Pat
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: egon]
04/08/07 10:32 AM
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Egon, LIke every so many rounds you want a tracer every so many rounds could be fast drying paint. Mercaptan is OK but don't knock putricine or cadaverine (typically found in rotting corpses.) Even butyric acid (responsible for the smell of rancid butter) is suitable.
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
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rebelmedic
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: GAFarmer]
05/24/07 09:51 PM
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My father made a heavy steel liner and slid it into his mailbox.It`s made of a piece of pipe for the round top and plate steel he welded together. His is 3/8" thick steel. The mail box can still be dented slightly due to space between liner and box. Replacement has not been needed since installing the liner about 15 years ago. It`s been bat swatted a few times. I don`t think any individual has struck it with a bat more than once,they learn after the first hit.
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JazzDad
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: GAFarmer]
05/25/07 08:10 AM
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I guess this is not the type of protection you are talking about; Mrs. Jazz got stung twice yesterday from wasps that built a nest under our mailbox. Try as we might, you just can't train those little boogers to go after would-be vandals only.
All kids are gifted; some just open their packages earlier than others.-Michael Carr
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Pat
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Re: Protecting the Mailbox
[re: rebelmedic]
05/25/07 04:47 PM
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Ahh, a good application for reactive armor!
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
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