From: "ameijers" 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: need advice for bolting mailbox post to curb
	charset="iso-8859-1"
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 01:53:37 GMT


"Jon Kickerston"  wrote in message
news:yBMzc.11569$Y3.2500@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> Help!  Where I live, the mailboxes are all bolted to the curb.  There is
no
> ground between the curb and regular sidewalk, so a mounting directly into
> the concrete is needed.  My current installation simply involved a
threaded
> cast iron pipe joint, cemented into the ground with an iron pipe of the
> correct height screwed into it.  However, this system has failed after
many
> years, and I'd like to install a 4x4 using a four hole mounting plate at
the
> base.  The mailbox would be mounted on top of this 4x4 post and the
> stability would be much better than the pipe.  My dilemma is how to attach
> the mounting plate to the curb.  Years ago, I worked for a machine
> contractor who used to install school shop equipment.  In the case of a
> drill press, we would simply drill holes in concrete large enough for lead
> anchors, and then used lag bolts to bolt the machinery to the floor.
Would
> this approach work with the mailbox, or would this be a problem due to
> environmental changes (Wintertime, etc.)?  If not, what is a possible
> solution?
>
Won't hold up well. Mailbox is a pretty good lever, and wind and kids and
careless drivers will easily shear off any small bolts. A single post is
very different from a 4-legged machine tool or pallet rack. Rent a masonry
hole saw and punch a circle in the sidewalk, drive a rust-resistant post
down at least a third of mailbox height, and mud into place. Warning- in
many areas, mailboxes close to street have to be breakaway, or thin enough
to bend over when hit.

aem sends....