>
>The best binder for lime and lime proof pigments
>is silicate based. I am very impressed with
>potassium silicate paints on plaster, concrete
>and lime mortar. They are cheap to make
>yourself,

can you post a receipe here gary?

very durable, allow the surface to
>breath, and dry absolutely flat - like true
>fresco. The acrylic resins are just not working
>out anywhere where moisture and heat expansion
>and road vibration/surface movement is a factor.
>The acrylics also 'gum up' any mixture, so
>instead of the sensation of troweling 'ball
>bearings' - you have the sensation of trowelling
>sticky glue.

here we are badmouthing the wonderful world of acrylics!!!!! in 1962 people thought they were sent from god.
>
>The silicate binders work so well because one of
>the secrets we have not revealed about true
>fresco is that the lime partially dissolves the
>silica sand to form calcium silicate. So adding
>another type of silicate (other than sodium
>silicate for some odd reason)is a natural mix
>for strength.This is also why white cement,

the white cement i have recently bought is twice as expensive as standard portland and comes from malaysia
or indonesia is this the same animal? do you know where yours comes from?

>another silicate, works so well with lime and
>sand. For a smooth 'plastic' surface a
>proportion of the dolomite and marble sands are
>better - they are softer and form more of a
>putty, not so soft to fall apart, but soft
>enough to self heal. I tried an experiment three
>years ago, ultramarine silicate paint on fresh
>white cement, lime putty and silica/dolomite
>sand - and after three years of snow, constant
>sun, frost and rain - it is still as bright and
>strong as the day I painted it.

sounds teriffic!
>
>Good 'sharp' sand is more important to fresco
>than lime, pozzolans (or what the trade calls
>'fly ash)' is another very fine, sharp sand.
>Magnesium in lime, like calcium carbonate in
>paint, forms a useless filler powder, with no
>strength, but this only becomes a factor in
>freeze/thaw cycles, or constant running water,
>and is compensated for with the use of good
>sands.

so necessary to be doing stuff to apply and fix in the fast lane this kind of information....thanks for putting it online like this....i reckon i could talk to
some plasterers down the road and they would be quite unfamiliar with this stuff.
>