New igloo disposable ice chest as a swarm trap?

Do keep in mind - computer boxes can be had for free and work just as well and offer many benefits over coolers.
I ran 5-6 of these one season (with 0% success, to be noted).
The computer boxes were wrapped and held really well through the summer.
I also kept nucs in computer boxes one season and did fine (had no equipment).

Not doing again though (just because well used and primed hives work best and I have plenty on hand now to waste my time on paper-based traps).

But if going for these coolers, computer boxes then to be considered as well.
I'd prefer computer boxes over coolers if to do this.

My thoughts were:
1) already waterproof so a bit more resistant to weather
2) has an integrated rim that can (might?) support bars.
3) it looks a little more like it is something real. If I am sticking these in a neighborhood to get a swarm that is high up in a tree it makes everyone feel better if it isn't 2 black plastic nursery pots wired together (or a computer box). With some propolis rubbed inside and LGO the plastic pots can work, but they look home made and are not a container they can stay in for long.

I have both Lang and top bar hives and like using top bar combs in trap because I can put that into a top bar hive OR into a Lang box. My top bars are a tad shorter than a lang box, but I have strips of wood the length of the Lang box that can be screwed into the top and then they fit. Same trick could be used if the length of these are not spot on.

Unlike you, I never have extra boxes on hand. Every time I have extra boxes it makes me want to get more bees.

Even if my wife makes me pass the hive on to someone else!

That said, there is always a lot to be said for free, and your computer boxes look like great options. I am sure someone will benefit from seeing how you rigged yours up.

Price of this funky box: $10
Cost of budget box from Mann Lake...$14. This proposed trap is DISPOSABLE. It will only last a few years. Time and money wasted. A real beebox will last decades.
I went through the whole funky bait hive phase years ago. Do a search here on Beesource. Frozen fish shipping crates, wine crates.....all a waste of my valuable time. All of you can waste your time also. I warned you. Front boxes left and right are my beebox traps:

GregV said:

Well, if you have empty used hives - sure.
Use them - a no-brainer.

But if no used boxes are available, why buy/build 10 full hive boxes so to only catch 1-3 swarms into them (or nothing at all)?

Brand new wooden hive box is no different from brand new cardboard box - both are not ideal because they are NOT used yet.
Might as well go the easiest/cheapest/fastest way and do cardboard.
Let us not forget - not everyone one has stacks and stacks of old, used hive boxes.

Click to expand...

Thanks for all the input. I will consider myself warned odFrank. Sometimes you have to figure out HOW you want to waste your time and this doesn't seem the worst way (yet).
Although if you have any extra boxes you want to sell for pennies, I drive by San Mateo every few weeks.

I do have a new box that I will be assembling this weekend, but boxes have a tendency to become hives and then you are out of empty boxes again.

I figured I started this thread so I should invest in testing it out.
I ordered one of the 42 L "Ohana" coolers today. I will try to take some pictures once it arrives and document what mods I make to the box if it appears that it will work. Otherwise, my next door neighbor probably gets it for his boat and maybe it comes back with enough fish for me.

For the record, I do think there are used boxes out there that do have the advantage of not having to transfer the swarm out later, but as I said before, in my hands, I think boxes will just become more hives which has both advantages and disadvantages.

The expected benefits of these over used deeps is they should be stackable (if they last long enough to go multiple seasons), and light weight which is good if you are sticking them up in trees, but look a little nicer than computer boxes.
They only cost $8 (more than a computer box, but less than a deep), but shipping is another $10 so if you are buying 1 at a time it isn't so cheap any more.
Is it worth it? We shall see. So far the smart money seems to be on No, but I still kind of like the idea and so will give them a try.
At least the price is still less than the swarm traps you can buy from Mann lake, and the size is better so ahead on that front.