Why do you dip in the paraffin the bottom end? It needs to produce roots. I use the liquid electrical tape for the tops. Easier to deal with than the paraffin and it stays liquid in the bottle all the time. Check a hardware store for this, you may like it.

Aaron,

I have been dipping the tops in candle wax but not the bottom. I think it looks pretty neat to see the leaves pushing through the wax & it just falls away. And I have noticed that it does help with mold & drying out (from the top at least).

About 2 weeks ago I had a very thick cutting that had root initials on it just like my Panache has now & I sprinkled cinnamon on it. Next day, the whole thing had mold. I will try the tea though on any new cuttings I get. Thanks for the tip :)

I had 4  RDB  cuttings the first year I tried rooting figs,I have 4 RDB trees.People keep sending me Panche  cuttings and I root them.I tried to root Smith cuttings and lost them all.I got 8 Isbat cuttings from Merio and all eight died,every one else told me how easy they root?

you guys bottom cut part is very important to dip in melted Paraffin, it helps callouss which leads to rooting and prevents infections...think of an open wound on a body. you need to disinfect then protect with cover. So, disinfect (cinnamon tea-2 table spoons of Cinnamon in 1/2 gallon warm to hot water, steer and wait 5 min, then throw the cuttings in for 30 min or so...air dry)  and Paraffin dip to seal for healing fast, keeps from dehydrating. 

Robert, after cutting I wipe the cut end and make sure the bleeding (milk) stops then before dipping in hot paraffin I tap dry again with paper towel, it's important the surface of the cutting to be dry so the Paraffin sticks to it really well. 

Paraffin coats the surface so thin that the roots or green growth never struggle to break the surface.

Igor, I'll check that Electrician's Liquid Tape product, I am interested to see how it works compared to Paraffin, as you should know by now, I am NOT pro-chemicals ;)

Jen, I tried candle wax before but Paraffin sticks better and it coats thinner layer. I'm looking to dip entire cutting in Paraffin, as soon as I find a suited vessel to melt the Paraffin in.

The Hardest cuttings to root took about 2 months to start rooting was a variety of  cuttings I picked up from Richard Watts. They were fresh off the tree and handed to me.
Lost Most to Mold and the Gnats got the rest, maybe have 2. ( Gulban and Early Violet).

sealing the top and bottom would be a nice idea. prevent drying out, and possibly prevent mold and rot. but success rate has been good without sealing in my area. tho, occasionally i feel as if i should have sealed the top at least when i see some cuttings drying up. but the reason for drying up is not due to the top not being sealed but the roots dying/rotting out and not providing water to the top.  

maybe green cuttings might benefit more since they seems to dry out easier.