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In all the years I've been painting and collecting this is the first time that I've used cork for doing bases! Can someone tell me if it is worthwhile sealing the cork with pva before painting it?

it isn't really necessary, you can get away with just going straight to primer/paint...although sealing it can help to prevent the occasional crumb breaking off after a while, or during pretty serious drybrushing.

I would be a little hesitant to use pva though, might gunk up the rough details of the cork...I'd suggest either considerably thinned down pva, or preferably, some cheap superglue - I've sealed mine with superglue a few times and it works a treat - I stress though, use the cheap stuff...you'll go through it pretty fast, and it's just being used for sealing, you're not trying to glue something important

...ah, also, keep in mind that cork is fairly porous, this isn't necessarily an issue, but just know that it will drink up a fair amount of any paint/glue/etc you put on it, if it isn't sealed

Thanks for that,Zobo.
I must admit the cork really absorbed the pva and I found myself having to go over the cork to get it to stick. to the bases. Like you said I don't know if it will be necessary to seal it/on the other hand trying to paint a pourous surface.....!

Pour super thin CA glue on it once its on the base.

I dont bother to be fair, but then I dont take my minis out the house so they dont get rough treatment, that they might in a store or out and about.

If you want to seal them, quickest and cheapest way would be to paint on a very thin mix of PVA and poster paint black.

Seals its and base coats it cheap and cheerful.

I do get the odd bit that crumbs off but its not a big deal as they are easy to touch up with paint.

Stick it to the base with cheap super glue, and it wont budge, rather than pva.

I use chunks of cork for rocks on my bases. I just spray prime them and everything's been totally fine. I usually stick it on with PVA or super glue.

I've used cork several times with no issues. Cork is great for creating a nice stone effect. All I did was prime in black, based in mechanicus grey, wash with nuln oil, dry brush on mechanicus grey, then dry brushed on a really light grey after that... can't think of the colour atm but it works great. Have had no problems with chipping, or cork splitting or breaking off.

These objective markers are modelled entirely on cork. Have had them for months, with no issues
http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-78848-41932_Objective%20Markers.html

Forget the paint job on the model but you can see the cork base here. Not painted to the effect of the objective markers (was still learning at the time) but you can get an idea of how you can get some nice rock effects.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-78848-37765_Necron%20Overlord.html