Durable mailbox numbers

We've tried a few things over the years to get the number to stay readable on metal mailboxes, but so far they've all failed within a year or so. I've tried the stick-on numbers from the hardware store and my mother tried paint years ago that only lasted a few months but I can't recall what type it was. I've just gotten a new extra large metal mailbox and want to try again to have readable numbers and I am hoping someone on here will know the right type of paint to use. I've been to a couple of auctions where they marked the lot numbers on everything before the sale, and a wagon I bought at one still has readable numbers after being out in the weather for 3 years. It looks like it was done with some type of marker, possibly, though it could be a brush. I will be very grateful for any advice. For the past few years our mailbox has said _3_ which is sort of sad looking. It's supposed to be 136 but for some reason the 3 is the only one that the black part of the sticker lasted. Thank you very much.
Zach

How about some cast metal numbers? Through bolt them on with acorn nuts on the inside so they are not sharp.

I don't know where to steer you for a solution but a civic organization in our local town, as a bit of a fundraiser as well as a civic pride thing, offered for sale, at moderate cost, white-on-green aluminum number plates. Almost every house, farm and business displays such a number plate.

I'll second the white on green reflective placards. I've had mine since '98 when I bought my house. Looks as good now as it did 18 years ago. Also easy to see at night.

Have seen some people, who have time , carefully cut up old license plates and then use the numbers and/or letters on rural mailboxes. Long-lasting solution. And reflective.

We don't need them. The counties isue a house number sign for every house, also called a fire number that is reflective like the road signs. Every residence is supposed to have one and that takes care of having to put them on a mailbox unless there are 2 or more mailboxes mounted on same post for 2 or more houses.

Easy, just go to your local sign shop and have him cut your numbers from sign vinyl. I have a white mail box with black name and numbers that still looks just like it did 9 years ago when I replaced the old one.

You can get vinyl letters and numbers cut in almost any size and font in most basic colors. Some varieties of the vinyl have a 20 year life span.

Last new box I put up, I printed up my house number in MS word on paper, cut them out and made a stencil, attached same to mailbox door, then painted the numbers on with an artists brush, in white over the factory green paint, which on the main part of the box, has peeled off and the metal has rusted. Funny, the door is fine and those numbers I painted are on there at least 10 years now. I had gotten a small can of paint that was ok for brush applying to metal.

2X for the vinyl numbers. You need a strong hot air blower to get them off.

Go to a marine dealer and get boat numbers. The numbers no my last boat were 30 years old when I sold it.

(quoted from post at 20:04:18 08/26/16) .................I've been to a couple of auctions where they marked the lot numbers on everything before the sale, and a wagon I bought at one still has readable numbers after being out in the weather for 3 years. It looks like it was done with some type of marker, possibly, though it could be a brush. I will be very grateful for any advice. For the past few years our mailbox has said _3_ which is sort of sad looking. It's supposed to be 136 but for some reason the 3 is the only one that the black part of the sticker lasted. Thank you very much.
Zach

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Yep- Those 'paint sticks' were used by the junk yards for keeping track of what part went where and the marks really stay on! I've got one that's about 25 years old that I got at the now-closed Big-R. Don't know 2 things about it: Where it's at and if it stick works! :shock:

(quoted from post at 20:28:21 08/27/16)

(quoted from post at 20:04:18 08/26/16) .................I've been to a couple of auctions where they marked the lot numbers on everything before the sale, and a wagon I bought at one still has readable numbers after being out in the weather for 3 years. It looks like it was done with some type of marker, possibly, though it could be a brush. I will be very grateful for any advice. For the past few years our mailbox has said _3_ which is sort of sad looking. It's supposed to be 136 but for some reason the 3 is the only one that the black part of the sticker lasted. Thank you very much.
Zach

Click to expand...

Yep- Those 'paint sticks' were used by the junk yards for keeping track of what part went where and the marks really stay on! I've got one that's about 25 years old that I got at the now-closed Big-R. Don't know 2 things about it: Where it's at and if it stick works! :shock:

Click to expand...

That last sentence should read Where it's at and if it [b:8027fac463]still[/b:8027fac463] works!