How do I make a 4x4 mailbox post?

This past winter, I accidentally drifted my 04 Taco around a corner and took out a mailbox and tree. It was an amazing coincidence that the mailbox and tree were placed at exactly the same distance as my wheelsbase - front tire hit and broke the 6" round tree, back tire hit and broke the 6x6 mailbox post. Only damage to the truck was a broken seal on my tire (went flat). I limped home, filled it back up and was good to go!

Anyway, the ground is thawed and I need to build her a mailbox post. Using a 4x4, how do I make a T-style post?



I can miter the cuts on the support but don't know how to connect the vertical beam (planted in the ground) with the horizontal beam (where the mailbox sits). I would think each should be notched out so the notches fit together. What tool or saw do I use to notch it out like that?

Any other suggestions to make a cheap post?

 

I'm not a carpenter but I would drill it and use lag bolts.

 

What's the deductable on your car insurance?

If its ZERO - then have the insurance company pay for it (and pay someone to install one for you).

 

Go to Home Depot or Lowe's and buy one already made. Dig a hole (Dig Safe) level, plumb and then Quick-Crete. Cheaper and safer than lopping off your fingers.

 

He asked about what kind of saw to use....That would make me stand on the opposite sidewalk to watch this.

 

I want the vertical and horizontal to line up. Hard to explain but I don't want to bolt the side piece onto the vertical. In other words, I want the post to be 4" wide the whole way up. If I just bolted on the box arm, it would 8" where I bolted it on. Hope that makes sense.

Two ways I can think of doing it:
1) notch out the two pieces and fit them together - then use bolts to secure.
2) have a bottom piece (3' long), a side arm for the box to sit on, and a top piece (1' long). Piece everything together with metal plates on the sides.

Damage to the truck would've been covered for free. Damage to the property has a deductable. Could use my 'accident forgiveness' but want to save it for something more serious.
Decided not to turn it in at all.

I'm going tonight to price one of the pre-built posts but an not interested in spending over $50 (the old one was a piece of junk). I'm fairly handy and would prefer to build one myself. I just don't know how to make notch cuts to connect the two pieces.

Not necessarily a 'requirement' but a side-effect from the job.

 

Seems like a logical question to me. I have a lot of tools at my disposal.

I guess a jig saw could do it but I'd have to find a longer blade (3 1/2").

 

To do that you need a table saw. Or if you have one, a decent router might get you the depth for the notches with several passes. Then bolt it together.

 

Circular saw with the blade angled and set at a depth that will allow you to take several passes to score the notch. Take a sharp chisel and clean out the notch.

 

He said "build" Chris not amputate... Not everyone has a complete lack of fear like you..