Good or bad idea? It seems more trappers are getting away from it. What is the negative side of it? Does it weaken the snare?

I always have.

I was told “for gods sake don’t boil the snares” on a different forum….lol
I simmered in baking soda for a bit and hung outside to dry. There’s instructions on the snare shops web site I think. But don’t over think it, I got my wolf and a few fox’s with untreated snares.

I soak mine in sage tea, just bring to a light boil turn down a bit and drop snares in.
About 10-15 minutes is good, hang on fence.
Ready by winter.

Beaver snares I don't do anything with, make n set.

If I remember correctly, ADC posted a few years ago that boiling in baking soda would cause snares to rust from the inside, weakening them if they set for awhile.

I've never seen any reason to. I just hit them with a little spray paint and they're good to go.

I believe I heard it also.

Black and wax same as traps.

X2

Used to but when I got to studying snares left in the water I realized that they tend to rust out from the inside if boiled. So I don't any longer. Leave the factory oil in there.

YMMV

In a dry climate they may be fine for years as far as getting weaker is concerned. However if you boil the oil out of the inner strands of cable it's not only removing corrosion protection but also lubrication so they get stiffer and won't function as smoothly. The corrosion you'll see will appear white and it'll have a chalky feel. Thinner cable it won't be as noticeable as thicker cable and 1x19 it will be less obvious than 7x7 cable.

Boco boils them then waxes them that puts back the lubrication and corrosion resistance that the boiling took away.

Personally I feel the same as trapdog on the subject a light coat of camo spray paint and they disappear into the landscape without the negatives of boiling them,,, unless I have hundreds to do then I find Formula 1 brown to be a much faster treatment that works great. I never do anything to remove any manufacturing oils from the cable.

We can't do dryland snares being beaver only in Georgia so our snares are always in contact with or within ten feet of water. Our soils plus tannins from leaf fall eats snares.

I've boiled with baking soda all of my fox ,coyote and bobcat snares without any problems for years .

Even Keith Gregerson will tell you the same thing if it's good enough for Keith it's good enough for me .

When the baking soda is used it will oxidize the cable, get ride of the shine. White vinegar will also oxidize the cable. Just soak for a few minuets and hang up to dry. With paint the flat brown is best. But if you just hang them outside in the weather for a few months they wii oxidize naturally.

I had ordered some pre made snares that were waxed. The were kinda “catchy” if that makes sense? They didn’t slide smoothly, tiny flakes of wax were peeling off.
But they were still effective.

This

Maybe the wind worked in my favour that day.

I run mine through the dishwasher let dry and paint them flat gray with a few flat black stripes

Not waxed right.
Wax needs to be smoking hot,they sizzle in the wax as all the moisture is boiled out from between the strands and replaced with wax after dying.
Have to wax directly after they come out of the dye.This gives you a invisible thin coat of wax,yoy wont know they are waxed except for the feel.
Store immediately in a box with pine cedar or other boughs natural to where they will be set until they are put into the rotation on the line.I often construct jackpots and anchor the snares long before activating the set.Wax protects the snares,as they never come back in.
Properly waxed snare will close better with no drag and with no sound.
You will catch animals with untreated snares,but the main reason I wax is for long life of snare wire,since mine are left out for years at jackpots and on trails to be activated when needed on a rotational basis.
I have hundreds of snares in place all over the trapline,some not activated every season.
I gang set and never replace snares that make a catch during the season.

You use snares with rams/kill springs or just a snare?
Just leave the snares in the hot wax for 5-10min I suppose? Might try that on the burner, just my burner is on, or off….no regulation. I guess I could cut one in-line though.