Theftproof mailbox

[Randygh]

Does anyone have a locking, theftproof mailbox? The Admiral thinks we should get a secure mailbox to prevent identity theft. She looked on ebay and the net and casually said a good box large enough to hold packages costs about $800.00. Holy sh_t batman, that's more than I paid for my new inflatable! If anyone has one, where did you get it and does it work ok?

[SomeSailor]

Draw one up Randy. We can build one up for ya for less than $800.

I'll get the plasma torch warmed up and the welder set up :)

[Randygh]

Al or stainless steel?

I thought a rectangular box with a slot and a flap over the slot would work to prevent a thief from reaching into the slot. I don't think the admiral would go for a box shaped mail box but I think a box with a pitched roof or rounded roof would be cool.

Could also weld some spikes on the inside edge of the box so that if someone reached inside they would be impaled as they tried to pull out their hand. The slot would work ok for mail and small magazines but would need a special door like in a USPS mail box to permit larger parcels delivery.

Mike, we're going up to Lake Chelan tomorrow night so I'll have some time to doodle with a sketch tablet.

[3788sam]

Sad but true fact of life now. We had locking mail boxes put in as well. Its the whole HO assoc. so the mail person has a master key to all the boxes.

Have a great time on the Lake! We were up last weekend, spent Fri & Sat at Ghram Harbor - wind blew the whole time but it was sunny and warm!

[SomeSailor]

Al or stainless steel?

I thought a rectangular box with a slot and a flap over the slot would work to prevent a thief from reaching into the slot. I don't think the admiral would go for a box shaped mail box but I think a box with a pitched roof or rounded roof would be cool.

Could also weld some spikes on the inside edge of the box so that if someone reached inside they would be impaled as they tried to pull out their hand. The slot would work ok for mail and small magazines but would need a special door like in a USPS mail box to permit larger parcels delivery.

Mike, we're going up to Lake Chelan tomorrow night so I'll have some time to doodle with a sketch tablet.

Here are the regs for general construction of a box. Your local postmaster can approve anything different.

http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm/D041.htm

[bradvo]

Maybe check in to a mail box from postal service- stop in once a week and get mail??
Brad

[Randygh]

A PO box is inconvenient--across the Columbia and always busy at the post office. The Admiral thought about renting a box from Mail Boxes Etc, but I don't want to change our mailing address. I'll check into the specs for a mail box that could be custom made.

Ken--we're heading up to Graham Harbor or Lucern tomorrow night. It's blowing here tonight and I'm afraid it'll be blowing on Chelan tomorrow night. If it is real sloppy we'll probably pull into Deer Point. We tried to go uplake three times last summer and never made it past Deer Point. It's not fun taking a 30 mph headwind 25 miles uplake. If the Admiral gets seasick, you know how the saying goes, "if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

[linedog]

I got a great one, I'll find the web site for ya.

[SomeSailor]

Actually a simple steel box would be best. Rectangular to match the size of a standard box. Stainless is a waste really (and not cheap). If you wanted it to look nice, build a roof over it like you describe in cedar shake or something. Securing it would be easy and a good coat of paint will keep it looking nice as well.

I can build from pretty much anything, but stainless of aluminum are more $$ than you need for a mailbox I would suspect.