Thread: Newbie -How do I build this ?

Are you able to take a photo from behind and or the side so that we can see what they have done?

I actually got this pic off the net. I will try to get some pics from the new estates around my house.
I checked in bunnings, I can get that actual letter box there (that chrome box). and I guess I would need treated pine to build something like in the picture. just wanted to know whats the procedure, how do I go about it, step by step.

I plan on doing something like this myself soon, here's how i'd go about it.

1. buy the letterbox insert, two posts and your choise of the slats.
2. measure the letterbox side to side behind the front decorative face. this is the dimension you have to set your posts. you'll fix the letterbox to these from inside the box later.
3. set your posts, dig holes fill with cement level them and keep them square to ea other, use tomato stakes to make sure they stay in place while cement dries, i use a 1/3 depth into the ground of the posts total height as a guide usually, this is rough, dont be too concerned with matching post height as you'll trim them later to match.
4. while that dries begin on your framework. Assuming you have roughly sketched out the dimensions of the frame and know what your sizings are and how much you'll need, cut your timber, arrange it with two verticals at the ends (these will be seen from behind). Lay your horizontal slats and match them up to the verticles. and place the two front verticles on top of the horizontals at the front in the same position as the ones behind.
5. stand back and take stock, look at it, make sure your gapping is correct, it looks like you visualised and sketched it, square it up.
6. once your happy with the size and layout use your preferred method of securing it all nails/screws being sure to keep it all square as you go. working sequentially down your verticles.
7. so now you've got a three thickness verticle edged slat framwork joined by your horizontals, when the posts are set, place hold level measure and mark its position onto the posts, use clamps or another person to assist (at this point if you need to fix the height of the posts you should dock them to height with a circular now, see next tip).
8. **A tip to get them perfectly level without a builders level is use clear hose and water fill it, nail it to one post and hold the other end to the other post, the water inside the hose will find its own level giving you a matched level to measure and cut from on both posts** fix the framwork onto the posts and secure it via the front horizontals (make sure to do each horizontal that you can).
9. now you have a posted framework fixed off and level, it is secure and stable, and safe (you sanded your edges so the kidlets dont scratch emselves right?) with no protrusions or sharp stuff. Mark out the letterbox opening on the horizontal slats between the posts. keeping in mind as before that you cut the through opening and not the total size of the boxes outer lip, you want to cut open the gap for the casing size.
10. grab a jigsaw or one of those u beut construction (not circular) what are they? reciprocating i think saw's and cut the opening.
11. fit the letterbox into the opening, if you set the posts right it should be a snug fit to the casing, it should be level and square with the framework, with the lip covering the cuts to the horizontals on all sides.
12. have a friend put weight on the front of the box and hold it into position level while you secure it to your posts from the inside casing.
13. stand back an have a beer, admire your handiwork.

Thats about how i'd do it from the pic you provided. and how i'd go about it.

hope its a help.

Neal.

From the pic i think they have possibly used 4 posts, two for the box casing and two for the framework, with the two for the casing set back from the front framework pair a little to give it more strength, it would stop the overhanging "wings" from being wobbly (that would depend on how wide you made them too), unless you plan on using it as a constand leaning post or being posted enormous weights. and you'd have to figure another way to set the front cut horizontals around the face of the box from behind it, perhaps a wood sleeve around the casing from behind it. Something you cant really see in that pic or until you have the box in hand to measure up and guage its needs. Another thing to be mindful of is your properties underground, power supply / water in supply / water out drainage.

Neal.

oh yeh one last thing, if you wanna get right into it, stop your postie on his/her rounds, and ask him/her whats a good height for him/her whilst on their honda ct110, have a tape measure handy .

Neal.

) Thanks Neal for the great info. sounds really interesting now that you have outlined the procedure.
Will keep you posted on how I go.
Cheers
Raj

[QUOTE=thompy;1321066]grab a jigsaw or one of those u beut construction (not circular) what are they? reciprocating i think saw's and cut the opening.

I think he meas a multifuntion tool like a "Fein" or Bosch. Great for square cuts.

When you talk to the postie check things like how high, and not to set it back from the footpath/road or like some have a few steps so the postie has to get off their bike.

Good luck with it Raj, another tip too, if like me you plan to use decking timber be sure to give it a good oiling specially on the parts where fresh end grain cuts are exposed (like where the casing fits into the front), and a coat over the whole thing when your done. just oil it twice a year or whenever you do your deck do it at the same time. best of luck.

And yeap either the feign type http://www.fein.de/media/corp/images/i0000112.jpg (oscillating blade) or the one like this http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...cating_Saw.JPG , or a plain jigsaw it depends on what ya have to hand.


Neal.

Originally Posted by rajan_g4

... I guess I would need treated pine to build something like in the picture. just wanted to know whats the procedure, how do I go about it, step by step.

Forget treated pine, unless you want it to look pretty ordinary - the one in the photo looks to have used hardwood boards - likely floorboards. You could use painted treated pine posts, or hardwood posts too.

Thanks guys for your replies. Really looking forward to building this. Will keep you posted on how I go.
Cheers

To get that nice deep red stain with nice grain you would need a nice durable timber like Merbau or Jarrah.
Nice grain and very durable.
I would have any posts in the ground durable merbau or Jarrah.
Bit more expensive but great appearance and long lasting.

(Battens on decks are usually Merbau or jarrah for durability and appearance and toughness)

G'day guys, what a fantastic forum here.. This is amazing. I have a question & would love to hear from you guys what your opinions are. I am opening up a new business & in my show room I would like to build internal walls for offices. At the moment it's an open show room with no internal walls. The floor in carpeted on a slab, but the ceiling is a suspended ceiling in those small panels that you can push up. My question is how do I fix the top of my walls to the suspended ceiling??

Originally Posted by Notachippy1

G'day guys, what a fantastic forum here.. This is amazing. I have a question & would love to hear from you guys what your opinions are. I am opening up a new business & in my show room I would like to build internal walls for offices. At the moment it's an open show room with no internal walls. The floor in carpeted on a slab, but the ceiling is a suspended ceiling in those small panels that you can push up. My question is how do I fix the top of my walls to the suspended ceiling??

Might be better to start a new thread or post in the RenovateForum Renovate Forums

G'day guys
back here after a while. been a busy bee, so didnt get a chance to work on my lil project. Thompy, HandyJack, ( or any experts out there), would you be able to tell me what tools i might require to get this done? At the moment, I have absolutely nothing as far as tools are concerned. I currently live in a rented apartment with a nice balcony, but dont have any workbench or anything. So, if I could get an idea of what I need, I could start shopping )
Thanks guys
Raj