Now your cookin!! When you add melted wax the temp will jump to 150-160. Don't freak just shut the torch off. Tilt again after the wax is added too. I always a add bit more wax so its packable..

I have done a few batches at this point. I'm using our local dirt which is a decomposed granite material, with a good gradation from pebble size to a very small silty material. When the process is started, the soil has a very light color, similar to a sand. When I get done, it has gone noticeably darker. I am wondering if that is normal or if I'm using too much wax? If that is normal, how do I deal with it when making a set? Just trying to blend with a bit of the material from the set location?

It should look wet. Feather it out and blend with whatever is at the set site, to break up the outline . The sun and weather will fade it out over time.

For those of y'all using blocks of wax, I had several blocks of wax that used to be flake wax that melted into a clump. I wrapped the blocks that were still in their plastic packaging in a tarp and drove over them several times with the truck. After a pass or two get out and rearrange it. Crushed most of the block into usable wax. Saved a lot of time and effort over grinding it up. I did it in the winter, so I'm guessing tossing your blocks into the freezer for a while is necessary or else the blocks will just squish out flat.

I'm giving heat lamps a try this year. Any tips or advice would be appreciated for those who've used this method.

I got a small batch of five gallons done today with just the mixing tray and clear plastic used sun on the deck for heat.
Was only in mid 80s today and just not hot enough to use the tonneau cover on my truck. The plastic and sun worked really well got very warm and melted the wax very well.
I didn't have musch luck with heat lamps couldn't get 150+ degrees temp out of the unit I have at my home. That's about melting point on this hobby lobby wax, amybe a little less like 140 degrees.
Jim

I made a 30" x 36' frame out of 1x6 with plywood for a bottom. I put my dry sifted dirt in it, put the wax on the dirt and cover the frame with a piece of glass. Set it in full sunlight and it gets hot enough at this time of year to melt solid chunks of Gulf paraffin.

Unfortunately, I missed the few hot days we had up here in Maine this summer. It's possible but I doubt we'll get into the upper 80s, lower 90s like we did earlier. Oh well, I bought several 250 watt heat lamps with 10" brooder clamp lights. If they don't do the job, I'll have to use the stove with small batches - what a pain in the rear...

John Graham showed his solar method at the WY convention. Pretty slick system.