Ernie Schmidt wrote:Cloam is a mixture of 1 part clay, 1 part cow manure and 1/2 part wood ash.
What is it you're making/building with this mix? I'm guessing that your plan is to plaster this over the skep beehive? If that is the case I would let your prescribed measurements slake for a period of 7 days as this mix alone will probably have descent
water sheding ability. It wont be "water proof" but it
should serve its purpose of acting as a protective/insulative layer and will probably need periodic repair as I'm guessing that's what whoever invented this application traditionally did.
1. How does one waterproof Cob?
You really don't. You do things to keep water from ever touching it. Most plasters are sacrificial and will at some point will probably need repair. The closest I have ever come across to waterproofing ANY earthen construct is
tadelakt.
2. Is there a good primer to apply to Cob so that normal Latex paints will adhere to it?
Ernie
NO!
DO NOT APPLY LATEX TO ANY EARTHEN ANYTHING! It will surely spell disaster for your cloam plaster, plus I don't think it would be healthy for the bee colony?
Good luck! Let us know how it turns out!