Quote: (Originally Posted by
Audimaniac)
I was always told that General purpose talk (like Baby Powder) contained purfumes and therefore degraded seals rather than protected them so I now use pure french chalk with no purfume or additives. Cheap (1kg bag is £8 from
Sylmasta Ltd Online Catalogue - sure you culd find cheaper) and lasts ages.
cheap from seaskin.co.uk too. don't use too much. just a sprinkling on your fingers wiped around the inside of the seal to lube it before you put it on or around inside and outside before storing. if the seal feels smooth and dry then you have enough talk on it. great clouds of talc do nothng more and may cause clog in other drysuit valves, etc.
I find it works perfectly as a seal lube (without the mess of KY, etc). Also my seals last approx twice as long as my buddy who has an identical suit. his show signs of perishing in 12-18 months and mine lasted 3 years. That means that normally perishing is a non issue as I will tear, cut or otherwise mechanically destroy a seal more often than every 3 years!