The Ford Barn

BillCNC · 04-17-2022, 12:01 PM

Hey All,

I'm about to replace my tires and I want to put some Talcum powder on the tubes. A couple of years ago the US and Canada removed it from Baby Powders and I was wondering if anyone knows where to buy Talcum powder from these days?

Regards
Bill

McMimmcs · 04-17-2022, 12:09 PM

why not use baby powder.

fastroadster · 04-17-2022, 12:13 PM

Dollar store......

redmodelt · 04-17-2022, 12:40 PM

Look online, there are still places that sell tire talcum powder for non-human use. Corn starch is plant based (baby powder); talc is mineral based. There is a difference in moisture absorbance.

MickyD · 04-17-2022, 03:05 PM

I put new tubes and tires on my 28 last year and I used baby powder and have had no problems. It worked great.

nkaminar · 04-17-2022, 05:21 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Corn starch works.

TLR · 04-17-2022, 06:01 PM

search for "talc powder for tubes" on amazon

fastone371 · 05-20-2025, 03:10 PM

Just a heads-up for anyone still using talc: you might want to check out the FDA Warning & Recall related to talcum powder. Some products were found to contain asbestos, which is why the shift to cornstarch-based powders became more common, not just for babies but across the board.

That said, if you're using it strictly for tires or tubes, there are still non-cosmetic grade talc options online (as others mentioned), but it's worth being aware of why it's gotten harder to find the pure stuff in stores.

Better safe than sorry.

Waorani · 05-20-2025, 08:01 PM

Seed talc is available online and at supply stores in agricultural areas. The asbestos amount contained in some baby powder samples was miniscule. I think the only ones that benefited from the whole thing were the lawyers.

Y-Blockhead · 05-20-2025, 08:15 PM

I used this silicone based talc at the recommendation of someone on Ford Barn when installing my American Classic Radials. Best stuff I have ever used for installing tires. A little expensive but the 16oz jar will probably last the rest of my life. https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...lc05-11180.php

Dr Foot · 05-21-2025, 07:53 AM

What is the reason for using talcum powder? I've never used it.

31deluxe · 05-21-2025, 08:19 AM

Bought some baby power at the dollar store.

Merc Cruzer · 05-21-2025, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Foot

What is the reason for using talcum powder? I've never used it.

So the innertube slips inside the tire, during mounting, inflation and running. I just use baby powder.

nkaminar · 05-21-2025, 08:51 AM

The slipping around generates heat, epically in radial tires, which is one reason why tubes for radial tire are thicker.

JayJay · 05-21-2025, 09:36 AM

I used to have a container of “old style” (true talc) baby powder left over from my bicycle touring days, where we sometimes had to change tubes multiple times a day. Lost it in a move. I put new tires on the Model A last summer and was forced to use the new corn starch version. It still helped but didn’t seem quite as slippery as the old stuff and didn’t seem to cling to the tube as well. The garage sure smelled nice. Don’t want to think of what it will do if it gets wet. Corn starch is what you use to thicken stir-fry sauce.

GPierce · 05-21-2025, 04:53 PM

Tire Talc
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus...ztiretalc.html

Seth Swoboda · 05-22-2025, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkaminar

Corn starch works.

Corn starch as mentioned. You can find it anywhere.

47topless · 05-22-2025, 10:52 AM

Plastic garbage bags placed on top of wheel. Tire bead slips over the wheel and right on the wheel. There is a U-tude tutorial on this technique .

04-17-2022, 12:01 PM	#1
BillCNC Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: SoCal Desert Posts: 853	Talcum Powder Hey All, I'm about to replace my tires and I want to put some Talcum powder on the tubes. A couple of years ago the US and Canada removed it from Baby Powders and I was wondering if anyone knows where to buy Talcum powder from these days? Regards Bill

04-17-2022, 12:09 PM	#2
McMimmcs Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Fort Gratiot, Michigan Posts: 2,296	Re: Talcum Powder why not use baby powder.

04-17-2022, 12:13 PM	#3
fastroadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Jackson Ca. Posts: 178	Re: Talcum Powder Dollar store......

04-17-2022, 12:40 PM	#4
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,458	Re: Talcum Powder Look online, there are still places that sell tire talcum powder for non-human use. Corn starch is plant based (baby powder); talc is mineral based. There is a difference in moisture absorbance. __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!

04-17-2022, 03:05 PM	#5
MickyD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Welcome NC Posts: 211	Re: Talcum Powder I put new tubes and tires on my 28 last year and I used baby powder and have had no problems. It worked great.

04-17-2022, 05:21 PM	#6
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 6,855	Re: Talcum Powder Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Corn starch works. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

04-17-2022, 06:01 PM	#7
TLR Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Hamilton MI Posts: 7	Re: Talcum Powder search for "talc powder for tubes" on amazon

05-20-2025, 03:10 PM	#8
fastone371 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 10	Re: Talcum Powder Just a heads-up for anyone still using talc: you might want to check out the FDA Warning & Recall related to talcum powder. Some products were found to contain asbestos, which is why the shift to cornstarch-based powders became more common, not just for babies but across the board. That said, if you're using it strictly for tires or tubes, there are still non-cosmetic grade talc options online (as others mentioned), but it's worth being aware of why it's gotten harder to find the pure stuff in stores. Better safe than sorry. Last edited by fastone371; 05-27-2025 at 05:05 PM.

05-20-2025, 08:01 PM	#9
Waorani Member Join Date: May 2023 Location: Opelika, AL Posts: 71	Re: Talcum Powder Seed talc is available online and at supply stores in agricultural areas. The asbestos amount contained in some baby powder samples was miniscule. I think the only ones that benefited from the whole thing were the lawyers.

05-21-2025, 07:53 AM	#11
Dr Foot Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 55	Re: Talcum Powder What is the reason for using talcum powder? I've never used it.

05-21-2025, 08:19 AM	#12
31deluxe Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Hudson Valley NY Posts: 30	Re: Talcum Powder Bought some baby power at the dollar store.

05-21-2025, 08:51 AM	#14
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 6,855	Re: Talcum Powder The slipping around generates heat, epically in radial tires, which is one reason why tubes for radial tire are thicker. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

05-21-2025, 09:36 AM	#15
JayJay Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 2,673	Re: Talcum Powder I used to have a container of “old style” (true talc) baby powder left over from my bicycle touring days, where we sometimes had to change tubes multiple times a day. Lost it in a move. I put new tires on the Model A last summer and was forced to use the new corn starch version. It still helped but didn’t seem quite as slippery as the old stuff and didn’t seem to cling to the tube as well. The garage sure smelled nice. Don’t want to think of what it will do if it gets wet. Corn starch is what you use to thicken stir-fry sauce. __________________ JayJay San Francisco Bay Area ------------------------ 1930 Murray Town Sedan (under reconstruction) 1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan It isn't a defect, it's a feature!

05-21-2025, 04:53 PM	#16
GPierce Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Germantown,TN Posts: 605	Re: Talcum Powder Tire Talc https://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus...ztiretalc.html

05-22-2025, 10:52 AM	#18
47topless Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 496	Re: Talcum Powder Plastic garbage bags placed on top of wheel. Tire bead slips over the wheel and right on the wheel. There is a U-tude tutorial on this technique .