Cedar Mailbox Post with Corbels — board plan

What to buy, and which parts come off which board.

Buy 4 boards at 8 ft.

Some parts do not fit on a 8 ft board. Pick a longer board above, or plan to join them. They are listed with their groups below — they are not included in the board count.

3 1/2" × 3 1/2" — 4x4 cedar

1 board · 16.4 board feet (includes 15% for knots and defects) · 77% of the boards you buy used

Main post at 96" — Longer than a 96″ board once the end trim is taken off.

Board 1 · 22 1/2" left over
18"18"18"18"
1. Corbel blanks — 18"
2. Corbel blanks — 18"
3. Corbel blanks — 18"
4. Corbel blanks — 18"

1 1/2" × 5 1/2" — 2x6 cedar

1 board · 4.7 board feet (includes 15% for knots and defects) · 76% of the boards you buy used

Board 1 · 22 5/8" left over
24"24"24"
1. Decorative cap boards — 24"
2. Decorative cap boards — 24"
3. Decorative cap boards — 24"

1 1/2" × 3 1/2" — 2x4 cedar

1 board · 1.0 board feet (includes 15% for knots and defects) · 26% of the boards you buy used

Board 1 · 70 7/8" left over
24"
1. Mailbox mounting arm — 24"

3/4" × 5 1/2" — 1x6 cedar

1 board · 0.8 board feet (includes 15% for knots and defects) · 26% of the boards you buy used

Board 1 · 70 7/8" left over
24"
1. Trim cap — 24"

Cuts are listed longest-first, which is how they should be made: the awkward pieces get placed while there is still board to place them on. The layout assumes one end of each board is squared off (1") and that every cut costs 1/8" of kerf — the reason six 16″ parts do not fit on a 96″ board.

3 1/2" × 3 1/2" — 4x4 cedar

Board 1 · 22 1/2" left over

1 1/2" × 5 1/2" — 2x6 cedar

Board 1 · 22 5/8" left over

1 1/2" × 3 1/2" — 2x4 cedar

Board 1 · 70 7/8" left over

3/4" × 5 1/2" — 1x6 cedar

Board 1 · 70 7/8" left over