I didn't know where to put this post, so I decided to put it here. What is talc? I read in other forums that it is used to coat rubber balls so they don't stick to the cups. Also, where can I buy talc?

Talc = Talcum powder = magnesium silicate powder

It will take the tack off rubber balls, but will also dull their colour a little. Dust the talc on & brush off excess. A fine make-up brush works best.

You can get it at any location that carries baby powder. Look for unscented baby powder, unless you want your balls to smell like a clean rubber baby.

You can also use cornstarch, but if you work to music, you will find that it tends to work better with country-western music.

I would think Talc is still available in any drug store.

Well, now that the talc question has been asked and answered, what is the difference, if any between cornstarch and baby powder?

I always assumed that cornstarch was a little more absorbent and carried no scent, but otherwise it seemed to be the same stuff.

This isn't an idle question, because I use cornstarch to keep my hands smooth and dry for thread work (the Magic Worm pitch) and find that it works very well. So what's it made of? SETH

Uhhh... corn?

Just guessing.

Cornstarch is a food product.
Talc is a mineral.

That's right. Cornstarch is made from the ground-up, white heart of the corn kernel. Talcum powder is a ground up form of the talc rock.

You would probably be better using cornstarch than talcum if given a choice. Talcum is a close relative to asbestos, and can be carcinogenic.

There is a lot of info on the web about the dangers of talc. Don't breathe it.

Bill, as usual, you are a fountain of good information.

Now, if anyone thinks my worm pitch is too "corny," I'll know I have only you to blame. <grin> SETH