Better homes and Gardens
Gather your supplies
Front 250 x 170 x 12mm marine plywood
Back 250 x 170 x 12mm marine plywood
Base 350 x 226 x 12mm marine plywood
Side (2) 350 x 170 x 12mm marine plywood
Roof base 385 x 255 x 12mm marine plywood
Roof side (2) 460 x 250 x 12mm marine plywood
Snoopy 290 x 200 x 12mm marine plywood
Post 100 x 90 x 90mm treated pine
You’ll also need
Power saw; clamps; straightedge; drill; 38mm hole saw; jigsaw; sandpaper; wood filler; undercoat (tinted to grey); exterior low sheen acrylic (Hot Lips, Vivid White, Black and Mission Brown); artist’s brush; 90mm Easy Fit hinges; post-hole digger; quick-set concrete
How cute is this letterbox? It features the much-loved beagle from the Peanuts comic strip in his favourite pose atop his doghouse.
Here’s how
Step 1
Cut components out of sheet of marine plywood with power saw. To get straight lines, clamp straightedge to the sheet as a guide for your saw, making sure your saw blade is on the cutting line.
Step 2
To create mail slot, draw a line across front, 30mm from 1 end. Measure and mark 30mm from each side along this line. Using drill fitted with 38mm hole saw, drill holes through top using these marks as centre points.
Step 3
Draw lines between circles to join. Using jigsaw, cut along these lines to remove timber. Sand cut edges smooth.
Step 4
Referring to Snoopy letterbox diagram (right), start letterbox assembly by butting base into 1 side and screwing together. Repeat to join other side to base.
Step 5
Place front on side and base assembly and screw together. Repeat to attach back to other end of this assembly. Use wood filler to fill screw holes. Allow to dry and sand smooth.
Step 6
Cut roof side so 1 long edge is on a 45º angle. To create lines on roof side, make 3mm-deep cuts along top face spaced 50mm apart.
Step 7
To create slot in roof side for Snoopy, draw a line along angled side 10mm from edge. Along this line, measure and mark 50mm from 1 short side and 125mm from other. Draw square lines to edge at these points. Cut along square lines. Set jigsaw at 45º then cut along line 10mm from edge between square lines.
Step 8
Repeat Steps 6 and 7 to create another roof side, a mirror image of first.
Step 9
Cut roof base so edges on long sides are at a 45° angle. Make sure angles on each side go in opposite direction to each other.
Step 10
Apply all parts with undercoat tinted to grey and allow to dry. (The grey tint means you’ll need less finishing coats to cover and will get a brighter result.)
Step 11
Apply 2 coats of exterior low sheen acrylic (we used Hot Lips), allowing to dry after each coat.
Step 12
To mark out Snoopy, draw 25mm grid on plywood. Using the Snoopy template (below right) as a guide, mark where the shape crosses grid lines. Join these points following the shape and, using jigsaw, cut out shape.
Step 13
Apply 2 coats exterior low sheen acrylic in Vivid White to Snoopy, allowing to dry between coats. Using artist’s brush, paint a black line around edge. Paint Snoopy’s eye, collar and front leg. Repeat for other side and on the edge. Allow to dry.
Step 14
Place Snoopy face-up in slot on 1 roof side.
Step 15
Screw on an angle to secure Snoopy to roof side. Place other roof side against first and screw together.
Step 16
Screw roof base to underside of roof sides so it sits centrally.
Step 17
Join roof to letterbox with two 90mm Easy Fit hinges.
Step 18
Paint post in 2 coats of exterior low sheen acrylic (we used Mission Brown). Screw through letterbox to post. Dig a hole 400mm deep using post-hole digger. Place post in hole, make plumb and pour quick-set concrete in place.
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