One thing I know about waxing sand, or dirt is that it's a good way to make it rain. Lol. All good info above, it's all labor. Buying the wax is the fun part.

Black plastic feed bunks (solar) covered with plastic is what I used last time I made it.

Could knock out about 30-40 gallons at a shot in a ten foot bunk.

Haven’t made it in years. To labor intensive and expensive.

Not to get off topic, but with the added cost and time, does waxed dirt offer a real advantage over peat moss as far as freeze proofing ?

I never liked peat moss. It doesn't allow you to bed a trap as solid as In dirt. If you don't drive a drain hole In your trap bed It will soak up water and freeze In cold weather. In most cases you have to cover It to keep It from blowing away and to blend It In at the set. If your trapping In dry non freezing weather go for It.
Wax dirt Is kind of the silver bullet when trapping In the dirt.

Where I live yes, no comparison

I have a stove in my garage. I just put about 2 gallons of dirt in a cake pan mix wax in. sprinkle a little on top. set the oven to 250. when the wax on top melts and looks wet I take it out mix again and back in for a few minutes and its ready. takes about 10 minutes to do 2 gallons.
takes awhile but on a cool day and about 12 beers I can get a lot waxed

If you trap in freeze/thaw/rain/snow/freeze, thaw again country there is no comparison.. The ONLY thing that puts it out of commission is an ice storm, then the ice just lifts of like a plate. And if you over wax just a bit bedding traps rock solid is no problem..

100% agree!!

Waxed dirt is hands down best. Not cheapest, but only thing that works in freeze thaw conditions here.
Jim

my last 50 gallons I did in the oven with turkey roasters two pans will yield 5 gallons. it takes me about15 minutes a 5 gallon batch oven set at it lowest setting no fear of scorching your wax. And yes wax dirt is far superior to peat moss. Only heavy freezing rain will render it useless