The Florida climate is kind of rough on mailboxes. I had been noticing rusted bits of bolts around my mailbox and then on Saturday the door fell off. I went to the local hardware store and picked up a new one.
Getting the old mailbox off was a piece of cake. Getting the new one firmly affixed -- more like trying to chew a piece of old shoe leather.
First of all, the new one was just slightly wider than the old so it did not fit nicely on the board that was there for mounting. And no mounting hardware, no bolts, nothing, actually came with the new mailbox . . . so a trip back to the hardware store. They are very helpful at the local hardware store, but they did not have the correct mounting bracket in stock. I had to go to one of those big box stores. Grrr.
I found the mounting bracket but when I got home I discovered I do not have a long outdoor extension cord. I was going to have to use the drill. Fortunately, my neighbor found one in her shed. She helped me mark the places to drill. Of course I used a drill bit that was too big the first time, but we figured that out and made adjustments.
Okay, the mounting bracket is finally firmly in place. On to bolt the mailbox to the bracket. The bracket came with a large number of screws and bolts of various sizes and some very inscrutable instructions. Even I was able to figure out the pointy screws went into the wooden post and that the smaller bolts would probably be used to mount the mailbox. The long bolts -- no clue. The rubber spacers -- no clue. If you need such things, let me know and I'll send them to you.
SO, final step -- bolt on the mailbox. Easy, peasy. Except -- what the heck? Something is wrong with these nuts. They don't fit! There are plastic rings inside or something and the nut only fits on the very end of the bolt. This befuddles me.
What to do buy return to the big box store to complain about there being defective nuts in their stupid mounting bracket kit. Well, isn't it wonderful that no matter how old you get you can still learn something new? Nylon locking nuts -- who knew. So I had a little lesson on what they were and what they were for and how to tighten them and I went home and finished the job.
Total time to complete this chore, three hours and a few clean up minutes. I returned the extension cord and told my neighbor if she needed her mailbox replaced in the future, she could give me a call.
I used to share an office with a woman who would get all flirty and say, "Ooo, we need a man with tools," every time there was the least little problem -- a light bulb in need of changing, a loose desk drawer handle, etc." This drove me absolutely batshit crazy. But now, I confess, I wish I had put this on the list of fixit chores I had for Don's visit.
Getting the old mailbox off was a piece of cake. Getting the new one firmly affixed -- more like trying to chew a piece of old shoe leather.
First of all, the new one was just slightly wider than the old so it did not fit nicely on the board that was there for mounting. And no mounting hardware, no bolts, nothing, actually came with the new mailbox . . . so a trip back to the hardware store. They are very helpful at the local hardware store, but they did not have the correct mounting bracket in stock. I had to go to one of those big box stores. Grrr.
I found the mounting bracket but when I got home I discovered I do not have a long outdoor extension cord. I was going to have to use the drill. Fortunately, my neighbor found one in her shed. She helped me mark the places to drill. Of course I used a drill bit that was too big the first time, but we figured that out and made adjustments.
Okay, the mounting bracket is finally firmly in place. On to bolt the mailbox to the bracket. The bracket came with a large number of screws and bolts of various sizes and some very inscrutable instructions. Even I was able to figure out the pointy screws went into the wooden post and that the smaller bolts would probably be used to mount the mailbox. The long bolts -- no clue. The rubber spacers -- no clue. If you need such things, let me know and I'll send them to you.
SO, final step -- bolt on the mailbox. Easy, peasy. Except -- what the heck? Something is wrong with these nuts. They don't fit! There are plastic rings inside or something and the nut only fits on the very end of the bolt. This befuddles me.
What to do buy return to the big box store to complain about there being defective nuts in their stupid mounting bracket kit. Well, isn't it wonderful that no matter how old you get you can still learn something new? Nylon locking nuts -- who knew. So I had a little lesson on what they were and what they were for and how to tighten them and I went home and finished the job.
Total time to complete this chore, three hours and a few clean up minutes. I returned the extension cord and told my neighbor if she needed her mailbox replaced in the future, she could give me a call.
I used to share an office with a woman who would get all flirty and say, "Ooo, we need a man with tools," every time there was the least little problem -- a light bulb in need of changing, a loose desk drawer handle, etc." This drove me absolutely batshit crazy. But now, I confess, I wish I had put this on the list of fixit chores I had for Don's visit.
Olga, good job!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe angle of the post to me means the box was to sit the same direction no? Oh who cares, it looks great you did it all by yourself and didn't need a man to assist. I am impressed. All those extra parts, my husband says they give you extras should you need them. He says this each and every time there are a lot of things left over. I pretend I believe him. :-) Now when you are heading north, stop by, I have a honey do list you can help with.
Hey, I am hopeless when it comes to fixing stuff around the house. Thank goodness David hasn't dropped dead yet. Or worse, divorced me!
ReplyDeleteYour a braver woman than I, I think I would have needed help. Our new one looks a lot like yours and it was so much smaller than the old one. I don't know if they make them like they used to.
ReplyDeleteAnn
Good for you. Whoever thought that Grandma's were hopeless we're so wrong. I am losing strength in my left arm and see that as a potential problem but until I get there I'm going to keep on being a handyman.
ReplyDeleteOur mailbox is similar... but it sits longways on the board. I don't think it matters as long as it works. If it was up to me, I'd just put the new mailbox on the ground and forget about all that bolting... but the mailman probably wouldn't like that at all. So it's a good thing DH is here for things like that.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for tackling the job, and mastering it. It was a pain, but now you can feel proud of yourself.
ReplyDeleteThat is perseverance. Well done. At least you saw it through to the finish.
ReplyDeleteI describe the difficulty of a job by the number of trips to the hardware store. A three-trip job is about average for me.
ReplyDeleteI've replaced our mailbox twice now. If you think Florida weather is hard on them, try rain, snow, sleet and hail, and then a snow plow!!!
ReplyDelete(ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!
Bravo my friend. You set an example for the rest of us about what we can do for ourselves. Maybe not so easy but at least we are challenged to try.
ReplyDeleteYikes, what a frustrating adventure but as you said, now you are ready if it ever comes up again. I will try to do something myself but if there is a man handy, I don't hesitate to play the helpless card. Makes them feel good and I enjoy watching.
ReplyDeleteMy admiration for your fix-it skills is shining bright!
ReplyDelete