[Cob] sealants over public cob sculpture

[Charmaine Taylor]

BEN SAID "  but I'd like some alternatives to get mainly sculptural
demonstration works into the public eye and not watch them fall apart with
the slightest neglect/overuse. "


 Hi Ben, the key words are "in public"   as many people will want to touch
of course, or  tap,  hit, grab.,  climb on, wiggle and dislodge to see what
the heck this stuff is   and interact  with your  art,   saying that,  you
 really may need to consider purchased sealants made by 'science'.

 I have used 'waterglass" which worked well and held up for several years
when painted on a lime plastered drum sitting outdoors.
http://secure.sciencecompany.com/Sodium-Silicate-Solution-1-Gal-P16464.aspx

another product- I have not tried this one.

*Edison Coatings inc.- CT     EverKote 300 **coatings are waterborne*

*inorganic paints and stains based on potassium **silicate binders.
Potassium silicate masonry*

*paints have been in use for over a century to **provide extremely durable,
breathable color*

*coatings on all types of mineralbased **substrates, including stone,
masonry, concrete*

*and cement plaster (stucco).
http://www.edisoncoatings.com/html/Potassium_Silicate_Masonry_Pai/potassium_silicate_masonry_pai.html
*

*
*
I wonder if using several coats of basic wax, like  Johnsons's floor paste
wax-- a commercial product, yes,  could be used?     Beeswax  is more pure,
but would it be as durable outdoors with constant touching/weather?

 I love lime wash*, but it will change the sculpture color unless you tint
the lime a clay color, or pigments.. which is easy to do.

Charmaine Taylor Publishing
www.papercrete.com

*   I painted the walls in my kitchen with basically lime water  ( 1 tbl
lime putty in a quart of water) and   2-3 tbl soft clay dug up from the
earth, (sifted clean)  and a pinch of salt,  then mixed well and brushed on
.. easy to do, long lasting ( 8 years and no breakdown, even on corners) but
mine is indoors on old, old sheetrock