Flake wax only for waxed dirt?

[stitchit]

Happy New Year!

Can anybody tell me if I could use bar wax instead of flke wax for dirt?

I'm in a jam n not able to get the flaked till Wednesday but still have plenty of the trap wax bars. I'm just not seeing what the difference would be?

Thank You!

Chris

[thebeav2]

How are you going to mix It?


1- grate up the bar wax

2-melt it and pour It.

In my opinion you won't get a very through mix by melting It and pouring It In your dirt. It seems to me It would start to solidify as soon as you poured It and It would clump up.
Now shaving It up you should be able to get a more even mix.

But then I've only used flake wax.

[stitchit]

The Beav,

I'm sorry, forgot to add that -- I have been using a cordless drill, and a long paint stirrer, (Metal one like ace hardware would carry), and simply pour it in, and keep mixing.

Shaving it up-- I'm melting it in my trap wax pot, and then adding to the dirt once melted. So, the shaving would not be necessary "if" I were to keep doing it the same way.

Do you preheat your dirt? Then add the wax?

[Stef]

It works but the wax needs to be melted before adding to the hot sand or dirt.
So...you need to heat the dirt first than pour the hot melted wax in it and mix well.

RATIO: -1lb wax per a gallon and half dry dirt
-¼lb wax per 1 gallon of dry sand (cheaper) but heavier

[RonMarsh]

Hot dry dirt into mixer. Melted wax. lid on mixer to keep it all in and tumble until cool.

[thebeav2]

If you both say so It must work. BUT I'm still going to continue to sift my flake wax Into hot moving dirt. Then once It's mixed well turn off the heat and let It turn to cool.

[musher]

I pour melted wax into a 5 gallon bucket half full of sun warmed, dry sand and stir it with the drill/paint stirrer until coolish.

[Stef]

If you both say so It must work. BUT I'm still going to continue to sift my flake wax Into hot moving dirt. Then once It's mixed well turn off the heat and let It turn to cool.

Beav, I tried (I think) all methods and I have a concrete mixer.
I found that I could make my waxed sand faster if my wax was melted compared to adding flake wax mixed with the sand in the mixer.

I believe that way will save some propane fuel.

So since that time, I don't buy flake wax anymore.
I just buy the wax in #11lbs slab block and melt what I need.

[stitchit]

So if I understand it correctly, some of you are actually adding melted wax, of course, to "heated dirt/sand"? Stef, do you preheat the dirt/sand?

Thanks,

Chris

[Stef]

YES, always

[stitchit]

Ok, thanks Stef. Can you tell me how, exactly, and for how long you preheat the dirt? I've been simply adding it to the room temp dirt that I have dried and never thought of adding heat to it.

Also, can you tell me for what reason you do? THanks,

Chris

[Stef]

Heat the sand or dirt until it almost too hot for your skin (hands)
Than pour the exact ratio of hot melted wax in it and mix well.
Dirt or sand should come/turn out darker... When its all the same color. remove it from fire and let it cool and mix it couple seconds once in a while the time it cools down.

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If you pour hot melted wax on cold dirt... You will end up with a thin wax pie on top of the dirt.

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When waxed sand or dirt is cold and done properly.
Dirt should look like dry dirt. Not sticky... Its the best stuff you can use for bedding traps in - trust me!

[stitchit]

Stef,

The pie- Are you saying that it will form in the field? Or, do you mean in the pot itself?

[Stef]

Like canning... On top.
or
You'll end up with chunks of wax on the cold dirt.

[stitchit]

Ah, got it! Thanks so much for all your help guys!!

Chris

[Stef]

You're welcome