Cedar Mailbox Post

[schnewj]

OK, guys. I need some advice.

 

I am in the process of building a replacement mailbox post out of cedar for my mother. What do you fellas recommend as a preservative?

 

I don't want it to age naturally and "Gray" down. However, I understand that stains can be problematic and require periodic renewal. In reality, when my 96 year old mother goes, so do I. The chances of me having to restain the post are slim. As my father used to say, "let the next guy worry about it".

 

In the meantime, I'm looking for a product that goes on easily, does a good job of weather protection and will look nice.

[Stick486]

seal the end grain w/ heated wax and don't set it in the ground w/ concrete... use pea gravel..

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

I would be hesitant to suggest anything, I doubt you will find a perfect product that meets your criteria. You don't want it to to turn gray. That's caused by UV rays, and to protect the wood from that you need something that will absorb them, or shield the wood from them completely (paint). there are several things that "goes on easily, does a good job of weather protection and will look nice" but the need periodic renewal, maybe more than once a year. tThere are some clear coats that will do the job, but even the best ones will need repair after a while and I'm not sure they meet the "easy" part of the criteria. Early on you mentioned "preservative", and the cedar shouldn't need that so I'll take a wild swing and suggest my usual outdoor finish: untinted paint, preferably oil based. It probably can't be considered "easy", but it should last at least several years before needing repair. (More info here.) Maybe some of the others will have a better idea.

[Allen Worsham]

I would look at using a sealer/stain for use on wood decking or log homes. I have seen it used for outdoor wood patio furniture as well. It is very easy to use as you just wipe it on and let it soak in and then wipe off the excess. It resists fading in the sun so reapplication would be warranted every few years. You can pick it up at your local home center.


http://www.penofin.com/wood-stains/index

Edited February 27, 2017 by Allen Worsham

[Dadio]

@Allen Worsham 's idea is good

 

Another suggestion would be a quart of end- cut-off solution they sell for treated material below grade. And above grade you could use house paint, any color.

Herb

Edited February 27, 2017 by Dadio

[HARO50]

10 hours ago, schnewj said:

I don't want it to age naturally and "Gray" down

 

10 hours ago, schnewj said:

I'm looking for a product that goes on easily, does a good job of weather protection and will look nice.

Grecian Formula! Covers the gray and..... Oh, wait... you were talking about the POST!

John

[Dadio]

1 hour ago, HARO50 said:

 

Grecian Formula! Covers the gray and..... Oh, wait... you were talking about the POST!

John

Shinola shoe polish works good too for both.

Herb

[John Morris]

Actually, I like the aged look of gray on cedar. Has a nice country feel to it. Like stick said, layer the bottom of the hole with gravel, no concrete, and I'd just let it ride with the natural hide it has, no finish. Nothing wood, outdoors last forever, in my humble opinion, if you put a finish on it, your in for maintenance, if you leave it natural, no maintenance at all ever, except to replace the post. The post is going to last years with or without the finish.

[Stick486]

but hot wax seal the butt end of the post...

VOE says it is a very good thing to do...

[schnewj]

22 hours ago, Stick486 said:

seal the end grain w/ heated wax...

 

Already done! One of the first things I did.

 

12 hours ago, HARO50 said:

 

Grecian Formula! Covers the gray and..... Oh, wait... you were talking about the POST!

John

 

Nope, don't want to use Grecian Formula. I don't want to turn the post blue if I leave it one too long before I rinse it off...

 

I really don't want to have it gray down. I was thinking of using a deck stain to try and keep some "color" for aesthetics only. I realize that deck stain really doesn't last and in retrospect would need yearly maintenance. UV WILL be a problem no matter what I use, with the exception of paint, which I DON'T want to use.

 

I was just hoping that someone had some viable alternative suggestion(s). I guess, that, I'll just let it gray down.

 

 

[Gene Howe]

We used Sikkens on the deck. One coat...recoat after a few months then its good for at least 3-4 years. Ours has been on for 5 years. It needs another coat this spring.

It's UV resistant.

 

[Stick486]

52 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

We used Sikkens on the deck.

 

that is some good stuff...

[HARO50]

Used it on the cedar house siding. One of the best around. Re-coat every 10 years.

John

[Dadio]

I like galvanized pipe set in concrete myself.

Herb

[HARO50]

After losing three mailbox posts to various drunken suicide jockeys in about six years, I was ready to set a 10" I-beam in concrete, but decided to throw in the towel and apply for one of the bank of boxes down in the village. A half-mile from here, but I can use the exercise!

John

[Stick486]

2 hours ago, HARO50 said:

After losing three mailbox posts to various drunken suicide jockeys

 

RailRoad tie...

[HARO50]

46 minutes ago, Stick486 said:

 

RailRoad tie...

Oh, believe me... I considered it! But the last time, some yahoo ripped the box from the top of the post, leaving the upright intact. Three weeks later someone called to say he had found our mailbox about 8 - 9 miles from here. We went down to collect it, and there were at LEAST a dozen of them in the ditch. The township had mowed the ditches (with a Brush Hog), and most of the boxes were just shredded metal. Ours and two others survived more or less intact, but by that time we had the "community" box already.

John

 

[Dadio]

Here they like to put 2-3 M-80's in the box and drive away. I found what was left of one about 300ft .away.

Herb

[Gene Howe]

Around here, theft of mail and vandalism of boxes is vigorously investigated and prosecuted. 

About a year ago, there was a spate of mail thefts. The thieves were apprehended and spent some jail time. It made the news and that must've acted as a deterrent because it hasn't happened again.

[Dadio]

1 hour ago, Gene Howe said:

Around here, theft of mail and vandalism of boxes is vigorously investigated and prosecuted. 

About a year ago, there was a spate of mail thefts. The thieves were apprehended and spent some jail time. It made the news and that must've acted as a deterrent because it hasn't happened again.

Where I lived before , mail theft got so common people went to email to pay bills and do their banking on line. the only thing that came through the mail were ads and the county tax statements.

Herb