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A basic mailbox post is a 4x4 in the ground with a box screwed to the top; this one adds a pair of corbels under the mailbox arm, which turns a purely functional post into something that reads as a considered piece of yard furniture.
Cedar is the right species here for two reasons at once: it resists rot without needing pressure treatment, and it's noticeably lighter to set in the ground than a pressure-treated post of the same size.
The finish is boiled linseed oil, not paint or stain. Oil soaks into the cedar rather than sitting on top of it, which lets the wood weather naturally over the years instead of needing a repaint when a film finish eventually cracks or peels outdoors.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Cedar, 4x4, 10 ftMain post — allow extra length to cut past any drying checks. | 1 each |
| Cedar, 4x4, 6 ftCorbels. | 1 each |
| Cedar, 2x4, 8 ftMailbox mounting arm. | 1 each |
| Cedar, 2x6, 6 ftDecorative cap boards. | 3 each |
| Cedar, 1x6, 6 ftTrim cap. | 1 each |
| Deck screws, 3" | 30 each |
| Glue biscuits, #20 | 12 each |
| Titebond III glue | 4 oz |
| Boiled linseed oil | 16 oz |
| Mineral spiritsThins the linseed oil for finishing. | 8 oz |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Main post4x4 cedarCut extra length past any drying checks at the ends. | 1 | 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 96" |
| Corbel blanks4x4 cedar | 4 | 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 18" |
| Mailbox mounting arm2x4 cedar | 1 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 24" |
| Decorative cap boards2x6 cedar | 3 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 24" |
| Trim cap1x6 cedar | 1 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 24" |
Some parts are longer than a 8 ft board, so there is no honest board count to show here. Open the board plan to pick a longer stock length — it names every part that does not fit.
1 board
1 board
1 board
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Cut the 4x4 post to length, leaving extra at the ends to trim past any drying checks. Cut the corbel blanks from the shorter 4x4.
Lay out and cut half-lap joints where the post and corbels join, checking the fit before gluing anything.
Rout a 1/2in radius cove profile along the decorative edges of each corbel.
Glue the half-lap joints with Titebond III and reinforce each with biscuits, clamping until cured.
Assemble the post, corbels, and mailbox mounting arm with deck screws.
Finish with boiled linseed oil thinned with mineral spirits, applied in thin coats so it soaks in rather than sitting on the surface.
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