Metal Crafts

Learning Metal Crafts

Looking for tin mailboxes in various sizes to use in craft projects ... preferably white.

Sue

Tall order ... searched high and low. Here is what I came up with.

Check eBay from time to time.

As I write this, they have red lacquered metal mailboxes for craft projects in three sizes (the small one currently on offer is 2 ¾" H by 3" L).

As I'm sure you know, new items are constantly coming up on eBay, so it's a great resource when you're looking for something unique.

I found one other mailbox for craft projects. It's a rusty mailbox on a stand (2" H by 3 ½" L).

I looked into the cost of having a tinsmith custom-make small mailboxes for you. Tinsmithing is a dying art and artisans can command high prices because of this, but also because every piece is hand made. The lowest price estimate I got was $24 each.

If this is not a one-time project and you need a steady source of mini-mailboxes, I suggest you learn to make them yourself. No, I'm not kidding and it's much easier than you think! The choice of metal and finish is then entirely yours: silver, brass, copper, aluminum, and even tin; your choice of enamel paint, rusty or patina finish, polished ... you name it.

Here are a couple of books I can recommend.

Creative Metal Crafts : 25 Beautiful Projects for Your Home by Joanna Gollberg. This book teaches cold connection techniques (no soldering required) that "take the intimidation out of an appealing art form" (in the publisher's words).

The other book I recommend is Metalwork for Craftsmen by Emil F. Kronquist.This book contains illustrations and detailed instructions for fifty-five projects ... including plans for a mailbox!

Thanks for taking the time to look for tin mailboxes for me. The one that is currently offered on eBay is too small.

I checked the seller's store-site and she does have all three sizes available....However, the price is much more than I have paid in the past. Also, I didn't particularly care for the "hole" in the top of the mailbox.

For the project I'm thinking about, I need just plain ones 6-8 inches long x 4-6" tall, and preferably white. I have a few that I have picked up at garage sales & flea markets, but they are red and I'm going to have to paint them white in order to use them.

I'm thinking that the last time I bought them from a catalog and it would have been either "Sunshine Crafts" or "Oriental Trading", and they came in a nest of three sizes (and they are not currently offering them).

I don't use many other media outlets as I prefer to shop craft stores in person when I get the chance to.

I'll just have to keep looking...making them myself is not really an option...between my flower gardens and my Christmas Craft business, I just don't have the time.

Thanks again! And if you ever run across them...think of me.

Sue

Can anyone help Sue out?

If you know a source of these mailboxes, let me know and I'll forward your message on.

Recommended Site

Decorative Country and Novelty Mailboxes
Decorative Mailboxes offer the styles such as: hand painted country mailboxes, and novelty mailboxes. Models : farm animals , birds, dogs, cats, horses, vehicles, fish, houses, music instruments, sports and hand painted patriotic mailboxes. Decorative Mailboxes