cardboard boxes for selling nucs

[FordGuy]

I'd like to sell about 10 or 15 NWC and Italian NUCs this spring. I tried the cardboard boxes from the bee shops - they are around 6 bucks but when you add shipping they come to around 10 bucks each. to me, that's crazy.


So I think I can get a legal length bankers box from a local office supply store. cheap ones go for 3 bucks and some change if you buy a lot.

I wonder if any of you have tried that? I'd probably have to add some spacers on the sides unless I filled it with 9 frames or something.

[bleta12]

I'd like to sell about 10 or 15 NWC and Italian NUCs this spring. I tried the cardboard boxes from the bee shops - they are around 6 bucks but when you add shipping they come to around 10 bucks each. to me, that's crazy.


So I think I can get a legal length bankers box from a local office supply store. cheap ones go for 3 bucks and some change if you buy a lot.

I wonder if any of you have tried that? I'd probably have to add some spacers on the sides unless I filled it with 9 frames or something.


Larger amounts can give you a better deal.
If you are selling only 10-15 nucs, forget about the cardboard nucs and ask your customers to bring the equipment so you can transfer the nuc.
With the money you save you can build more nucs.
I use those cardboard nucs but I dont like them, I become very nervous about the prospect of loosing a queen in those tight areas.

Gilman

[honeyman46408]

I'd like to sell about 10 or 15 NWC and Italian NUCs this spring. I tried the cardboard boxes from the bee shops - they are around 6 bucks but when you add shipping they come to around 10 bucks each. to me, that's crazy.


So I think I can get a legal length bankers box from a local office supply store. cheap ones go for 3 bucks and some change if you buy a lot.

I wonder if any of you have tried that? I'd probably have to add some spacers on the sides unless I filled it with 9 frames or something.


http://www.mdasplitter.com/ordering.htm

[KSbee]

You might try this company- http://www.completepackage.com/products/rsc_ect32.php
I've bought their 20x8x1 ECT 32 (corregated cardboard) Kraft boxes to use as nucs. They're cheap (< $1) and they work fairly well if you tack a piece of 3/4 scrap lumber on either end to use as a frame rest. A 1" hole saw makes quick work of an entrance hole.
I even painted a few and set them out as swarm traps. Painting didn't prevent them from getting wet and wavy but they never fell apart and I even got a couple of swarms.

[FordGuy]

You might try this company- http://www.completepackage.com/products/rsc_ect32.php
I've bought their 20x8x1 ECT 32 (corregated cardboard) Kraft boxes to use as nucs. They're cheap (< $1) and they work fairly well if you tack a piece of 3/4 scrap lumber on either end to use as a frame rest. A 1" hole saw makes quick work of an entrance hole.
I even painted a few and set them out as swarm traps. Painting didn't prevent them from getting wet and wavy but they never fell apart and I even got a couple of swarms.

hey thanks to both of you. on yours, did you mean 20 x 8 x 10?

[KSbee]

hey thanks to both of you. on yours, did you mean 20 x 8 x 10?

Yes, 20x8x10.

[drobbins]

someone posted pictures of building nucs out of that pink foam insulation that comes in 4x8 sheets
they worked out to be real cheap and were fairly durable

Dave

[KSbee]

someone posted pictures of building nucs out of that pink foam insulation that comes in 4x8 sheets
they worked out to be real cheap and were fairly durable


I made up 30 out of 1-1/2" pink foam board a few years ago. They work good unless you're in an area with coons and other similiar varmits. Mine have an integral feeder at the rear. The varmits can smell the sugar and honey and will destroy the foam. Ants also like to chew it up. Otherwise they work good and are very light weight. Personally, if I take the time to manufacture more nucs myself, I'll probably go with wood. Much more durable so I don't have to worry about them getting tore up. At this point my time and cost of lost opportunity is worth more than the cost difference between wood and foam.

[drobbins]

no doubt if you're going to keep them go with wood
but if you're selling them to somebody whose not going to pay a premium for them, cheap is good:)

Dave

[mwjohnson]

Hi FordGuy,
FWIW,I got some nucs from Lloyd Spears a few years ago, and he made his own outta big pieces of cardboard, like appliance boxes.
He had made a couple of small (1" x 3" or so) vents down low on each side and one bigger one (about 2" x 5", if I remember right) in the top with window screen siliconed in place.
The frames fit tightly in height and length, so they couldn't shuck around, and were a little tough to remove, but otherwise worked well.
Be pretty easy once you worked everything out.
Good Luck
Mark