Drysuit talc

[mudchick]

I always thought using regular baby powder on your latex neck and wrist seals were good for helping get the gear on. Now I've heard that it's bad for the latex; other seemingly inert ingredients cause the problem and something else (probably more expensive) is better. What about regular ceramic grade talc? What else is there? Corn starch? Other commercial products I'm unaware of?

Thanks,
Mudchick

 

[Codiak]

I use corn starch.

 

[fisheater]

I use pharmaceutical grade talc. I get it in bulk on eBay.


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[CuNanoTube]

Corn starch works great. I have heard there is some link between talc and lung cancer as well. I'm not sure if the science is 100% on it, but cornstarch works just as well.
They even sell cornstarch baby powder (which is perfect).

 

[AfterDark]

I've been using baby powder for awhile. If it doesn't hurt a babies a$$ then it ain't going to hurt my drysuit, and it hasn't....yet.

 

[lsorensen]

Is a baby's a$$ made of latex? I didn't think so.

Vaseline damages latex, but not human skin, so that argument is bogus.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I've been using baby powder for awhile. If it doesn't hurt a babies a$$ then it ain't going to hurt my drysuit, and it hasn't....yet.

As has been said, baby talc is not good for use on latex seals. It has perfumes and other ingredients that speed up the degradation of the seal. If you are OK with that then that is your choice. I'll not judge you on your choice but you should not tell people that it is fine for use on latex seals if it is not.

I looked for pharmaceutical grade talc at one point and then realized just how long $5.00 worth from my LDS would last. At that point I stopped looking and will continue to buy what they sell. It is not worth it for me to search for another source to buy it from IMO. Other's MMV.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

I use talc from dave4868 on this board. Link to his store eBay My World - dave4868

 

[eponym]

Pharmacists use a lot of pure (unscented) talc in their work. So I asked my pharmacist whether he could spare some and he gave me a several-ounce bottle free, enough for several years' use.

-Bryan

 

[MaxBottomtime]

When I used latex seals I preferred hair conditioner.