I have a wall mount mail box (Janzer), 21.5" H X 8.5" W X 8.5" W, pretty heavy galvanized steel. I made a mistake and assumed I can remove the curb side beat up mail box and mount near the door, and the mail man told me no no no it has to be curb side.
So now I have to find a post for it.
This is not exactly the right model, but it looks like this, and has two holes in the back for mounting.
But this contemporary box with 4x4 will look a little odd. I think.
So, I started to wonder about those galvanized steel fence posts. Suppose I get one of those and mount the box on it instead, that will look better, I think. The only question is:
(1) How I mount the box. With wood I can drill a hole all the way through the 4x4 and secure with a long bolt on the other side. With a tubular post, how will this work? I will need to drill two sets of holes right? One hole for a short bolt, and the washer will be on the inside wall of the mail box. But I need to somehow get to the bolt from the post side, to hold it, to pass it through. I don't think a toggle bolt will be strong enough for this application.
(2) Since the post is rounded, after mounting, the mail box will be attached by two bolts. this roundness probably will cause extra stress to the bolt, or the hole on the post. Will this be strong enough to hold the box, which I think it's about 3 to 4 pounds without mail.
(3) Drilling holes on rounded pipe - I remember previously I had trouble drilling holes on galvanized steel surfaces, I was using standard metal bits. May not be the right ones? Those had trouble breaking into the steel, now, I am talking about a ROUNDED galvanized steel surface, this will be worse. How can I drill two nice holes on a galvanized pole 2-5/8 in diameter? What bit should I use and how do I drill on a non-flat surface.
(4) With 4x4 I need to dig 18" to 24" and pour concrete. Do I need to for the metal post? I can pound it much deeper (I hope), is there still a need to have concrete?
(5) I will need to paint this black. I never tried painting on galvanized steel. I guess it wouldn't be easy. Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance,
MC