Re: Final coat on mud/Bees wax

["sueandon" <sueandon@netconnect.com.au>]

 >We worry more about having something that is going to last many
> years and won't wash away if we are ever lucky enough to get some rain. If
> it looks good on top of that, then it's even better.
>     Can anyone tell me the pros and cons (in plain English, which is hard
> enough for me, thank you) of the choices I have?. Of course, your kindness
> should also allow you to mention the ratios and other specs; since this is
> out first try on strawbale building, our knowledge and experience on the
> subject are very limited (or useless, I know you are thinking that
anyway).
>     I have heard of lime mixtures, clay/chopped up straw mixtures, some
have
> mentioned using liquid soap, cactus juice, lineseed oil, and perhaps some
> other stuff to harden the final coat. What do you people reccomend for a
> case like this?

At a workshop/baleing we are running this weekend - the owner of the house
being built showed us an earthen wall he has coated with a mixture of melted
bees wax and third grade linseed oil - 100gms to 1 litre.
He demonstrated the finish by throwing amounts of water against the wall -
which beaded and fell away - and the untreated section next  just soaked in
when the water was thrown against it.
Have heard of this  type of recipe for protecting external wood work and
know a person who has had it protect her exterior woodwork with just one
coat for the last 17 years.
Question on my mind is it sealing it completely - will the wall be able to
breathe?
As a cook my experience with wax (paraffin) is to seal the tops of jams and
preserves in jars.
Is bees wax different?
Does anyone have any ideas?

Sue Ewart
Gentle Earth Walking
P.O. Box 395 Daylesford
Victoria, 3460   Australia