I have always used "flaked wax" to melt into shale or dirt to bed traps in. The flake wax worked great no matter what type of soil or shale I used. Recently I bought wax for the same purpose but all I could get was granulated wax. I use the sun to accomplish this task and have been pleased with the process and the results in the past.
My issue is the granulated wax doesn't seem to melt into the same type of soil and shale that I have used for years. Todays temp was 100 degrees and sunny.
Has anybody else experienced this issue? I have a cement mixer and propane burner that I used years ago when I first started waxing dirt but I really don't want to go that route again.
Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

You need to check the temperature that your granulated wax melts at. Paraffin used to make waxed dirt has a low melt temperature

Following...

This. I bought 55lb of granulated paraffin the spec sheet says melt point is 140F.
I believe the lower the oil content the lower the odor and higher the melting point
The stuff I bought is food grade so very low oil content.
Just my thoughts, not a chemist.

I may have to get a piece of plexi glass to cover the tub to up the temp.
The wax came from Dakota Line Trapping supply so it is for this purpose.
Thanks for your input and post the out come of the glass covering.

A cheap, thin, clear sheet of paint drop cloth plastic will work just as well as plexiglass. I put a tarp under the dirt with a few brick around it. Spread the thin plastic and weight it down with brick on top of the other brick. That way, you can stretch it tight so it does not sag down onto the dirt/wax. Easy peasy.

Ive used the HL candle wax and the flake/granulated wax from MTP. Seems the yotes like the granulated better. I don't have to melt or shave the granulated either. For me that in itself negates the extra cost. I'm going solar this year since the neighbors to the south took a bunch of trees down. Gonna get a 4x8 sheet of ply wood and frame it with 2x4 s and wrap it with black plastic, Plexiglass on top. I figure I can do 10 gallons at a time with this method while I'm not present. 2-3 hours of full sun with 80 degrees or over outside temp, stir, cool, transfer to storage done.

I made a batch (23 gallons) yesterday solar method with MTP wax. I didn't need a clear cover. We had temps in the low 90s and it was done in about three hours.

Larry,
I just use clear plastic for covering my black, plastic wax trays. Gets very hot inside and wax melts no problem. Keep it facing the sun directly as possible and I put a wood block under the back of the tray to angle it more straoght on to the sun. Use the wax that F&T sells. No problem getting it to melt or adverse reactions from animals when trapping.

I get and use ogormans granulated wax, but i a torch and mixer.
If I used the solar method we would be flooded lol

That's the set up I use but instead of black plastic, I painted the inside with flat black paint. This way I can use a rake to work the wax into the dirt to get a more even coating. When it's done then I can use a flat shovel to scoop it out. Not only does plastic rip but I sometimes feel it leaves the smell of plastic (petroleum) in the wax dirt. One could argue about paint leaving a smell too but after a while out in the sun I feel most of that is gone. Just my 2 cent's worth.

Great thread. My first year trying this.

What soil type are you guys using for your wax dirt?

I've used black dirt in the past but am using sand this year after reading how it's supposed to use less wax and pack better when bedding your trap.

I use sand, and top coat with ant hill duff on the praire and my mountain sets i top coat with fine juniper duff because it's there.

I use Sandy loam from my garden

I have used washed sand for waxed dirt the last ten years. I mix 10 pounds of flaked wax to 20 gallons of sand and end up with about 25 gallons of finished product. If I can grab a handful and make a sand ball and it holds together I call it good.