Has anyone used paraffin wax beads to make wax dirt? Any opinions? Thanks in advance for the comments and advice.

I think that’s what everyone uses….

We bought our wax for dirt this year from Funke. If they can keep this in stock year to year, I’ve found my wax from now on. I’m waxing dirt as I type this. lol

Different place same type wax went very smooth this year melted at lower temp. No smoking. Scorching, no burning this year at all and on 350 gallons a year that may seem simple but not much on all batches at 15 gallon a time .
That fine grain type I like.

Bpught 3 lb bags of these from hobby lobby. Work great for waxed dirt.

How much wax do you use? Say you have 5 gallons of dirt, how much wax is needed for that?

You guys using wax from hobby lobby have any dig ups or refusals? Ses like every time I go into the store I feel I need a shower when I leave from all the fufu smells in the store. Wax will pick up order faster than just about anything.

Depends on your soil type. Instructions say 3/4 pounds to each gallon of dirt. Some guys use just sand and say that 1/4 pound to each gallon is enough.

No problem here

Walk into a trap supply dealer that carries trap wax. The entire shop has odors of lures baits and urines. I order my wax from fnt my wax is boxed along with my lures, urines, and baits as well. Entire box smells like everything I ordered never any issues. The wax itself either from hobby lobby or trap supply companies has a odor of its own when heated to melting point. If I run short on wax dirt I’ve used hobby lobby wax to make a batch never any issues. I prefer the finer wax fnt carries over hobby lobby’s tho.

If wax takes on odor wouldn't it take on the odor of the dirt?

I've always wondered about this.

Still wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this. If so, could this be why waxed traps may be more effective than dipped traps? In other words, the wax absorbs the odor of the soil in which it is bedded.

Just a theory. Maybe a stupid one.

I'm far from a great k9 trapper. I've waxed dirt twice now. Once with a cement mixer. I was very anal about doing it "by the book. 2nd time made it in a brand new electric roaster. Also by the book. I'm 99% sure my wax was clean and fresh. I had more refusals and dug traps those seasons than I've ever had.

As far as the wax taking the smell of the dirt, yes I believe it does. I made wax dirt from dirt I dug out of an old chicken coupe that had been vacant for 30+ years. You could definitely tell it come from the coupe. Had that old barn smell that wouldn't go away. I tossed it.

Not sure about dirt, but use 1 pound wax for 5 gallons of sand.

Try sifting your dirt on a very windy day to eliminate the powder dirt the end product is awesome and more user friendly to set making. You get better drainage with little to no water sitting on top in the morning hours. By holding the sifter higher up you can regulate the amount of powder you end up with leave a nice course chunky bucket of dirt. More sifting yes but a excellent finished product in th end.



I like these round bell type holders to keep from beating the course dirt into a powder when handling it while making waxed dirt. I just roll the bells on their edges and the dirt rolls and mixes together that way. You end up with less dirt to dirt contact giving better drainage and a covering that stays loose longer. Just cover with the local dirt to blend it in at the sets

I been using waxed river sand the dredge piles up.

What ratio of wax to river sand do you use?

Thanks for the sifting idea Jerry.

I ran short on flake wax to finish a barrel I was making so I bought a four of these... worked well. Got 25 mores pounds of flake to make more now.

No problem it can be a mess with cross winds you will look like a coal miner then, a steady wind is best more work making it but worth it to me.