Where to buy unscented talcum powder

[Paul Colose]

I recently purchased a drysuit w/ latex seals and was told talcum
powder was the best preservative for them. Unscented was advised
because the oil-based fragrance deteriorated latex. Everyone I've
talked to locally told me they got their talc from their drysuit
manufacturer. I could order the suit manufacturer's talcum powder, but
they want $20 a bottle (I know, after dishing out all that $ for a
suit, why can't I spend another $20?).
Are there any specialty stores that carry unscented talcum powder?
I've already tried drug stores, discount stores, and supermarkets.
Please help me people, because after only ten dives my neck seal
is cracking (and I don't have a ring system or self-replacable seals).
I hate to send the suit back (I've been diving pretty heavily this
winter: new drysuit-related dive mania).
Thanks to anyone who can help (parenthetical additions to
sentences are a pain, aren't they?).

[Leslie J. Chow]

Paul,

I ordered some from my neighborhood pharmacist. can't recall exact
price but it was around $5 for 4 oz I think. some people also use
corn starch.

either way, FYI, to avoid overapplying the stuff (easy get
the stuff all over the place), if you're reasonably facile with a
sewing machine you can make a small bag, velcro'd at the top (for refilling)
out of an old Tshirt and blot it on the seals (and store it in a zip lock)
the folks at monterey bay wetsuits (they make drysuits too, tho I don't have
one of theirs) gave me the idea.

good luck

-Leslie

In article <4erjo8$o...@hearst.cac.psu.edu>, pa...@hearst.cac.psu.edu (Paul

[Ron Price]

Paul Colose wrote:
>
> I recently purchased a drysuit w/ latex seals and was told talcum
> powder was the best preservative for them. Unscented was advised
> because the oil-based fragrance deteriorated latex. Everyone I've
> talked to locally told me they got their talc from their drysuit
> manufacturer. I could order the suit manufacturer's talcum powder, but
> they want $20 a bottle (I know, after dishing out all that $ for a
> suit, why can't I spend another $20?).
> Are there any specialty stores that carry unscented talcum powder?
> I've already tried drug stores, discount stores, and supermarkets.
> Please help me people, because after only ten dives my neck seal
> is cracking (and I don't have a ring system or self-replacable seals).
> I hate to send the suit back (I've been diving pretty heavily this
> winter: new drysuit-related dive mania).
> Thanks to anyone who can help (parenthetical additions to
> sentences are a pain, aren't they?).

I had the same problem... I ordered pure talcum powder from my local
Walgreens for 5lbs for $8. They had it delivered within one day...
Certainly beats $7 for 2oz from my local dive shop... I think you
should be able to get the same from any drugstore...

--
Ron Price | Opinions expressed are my own
AI-80047 | and may not be that of my employer...
rpr...@luc.edu |

[rba...@ibm.net]

In <4erjo8$o...@hearst.cac.psu.edu>, pa...@hearst.cac.psu.edu (Paul Colose ) writes:
> I recently purchased a drysuit w/ latex seals and was told talcum
>powder was the best preservative for them. Unscented was advised
>because the oil-based fragrance deteriorated latex. Everyone I've
>talked to locally told me they got their talc from their drysuit
>manufacturer. I could order the suit manufacturer's talcum powder, but
>they want $20 a bottle (I know, after dishing out all that $ for a
>suit, why can't I spend another $20?).

Try a billiards parlor. In the Seattle area, they seem to carry unsented talc in a small
cloth bag that comes in a small ziplock. Just take the bag out of the ziplock and
pat it around in your seals. They cost about $4 and last a long time.

[Mark S. Johnson]

Leslie J. Chow wrote:
>
> Paul,
>
> I ordered some from my neighborhood pharmacist. can't recall exact
> price but it was around $5 for 4 oz I think. some people also use
> corn starch.
>
> either way, FYI, to avoid overapplying the stuff (easy get
> the stuff all over the place), if you're reasonably facile with a
> sewing machine you can make a small bag, velcro'd at the top (for refilling)
> out of an old Tshirt and blot it on the seals (and store it in a zip lock)
> the folks at monterey bay wetsuits (they make drysuits too, tho I don't have
> one of theirs) gave me the idea.
>
> good luck
>
> -Leslie
>

Heck, we just put the talcum in an old sock and tie the end.
YMMV.

Safe Diving,
Mark
--
Mark S. Johnson http://www.calpoly.edu/~mjohnson/

[Ray McAllister]

Unscented talc might be available from an auto tire shop. Thats where we
got ours in the 50s when Johnsons baby talc stunk too badly for us macho
guys :)

Ray McAllister, Prof (Emeritus) Ocean Eng., FAU, Boca Raton, FL 33064
Diving Dinosaur, Geologist/Oceanographer/Ocean Engineer, 44 years SCUBA
mcal...@gate.net (954) 426-0808, Author Diving Locations, Boynton/Dania

[gfb...@hotmail.com]

On Thursday, February 1, 1996 at 7:00:00 PM UTC+11, Paul Colose wrote:
> I recently purchased a drysuit w/ latex seals and was told talcum
> powder was the best preservative for them. Unscented was advised
> because the oil-based fragrance deteriorated latex. Everyone I've
> talked to locally told me they got their talc from their drysuit
> manufacturer. I could order the suit manufacturer's talcum powder, but
> they want $20 a bottle (I know, after dishing out all that $ for a
> suit, why can't I spend another $20?).