Does anyone have experience using cornstarch rather than talc on their drums. Many of the baby powders that are for sale are based in cornstarch thus the question.
Never tried talc. I've used Johnson's baby powder for a couple of years. If I'm not mistaken, that's pure corn starch. However, yesterday I stopped by REI and bought a container of magnesium phosphate (I think that's what it is). It's what rock climbers, weight lifters, and others use to keep their hands dry. The guy at the store indicated that too much will cause my hands to crack, but I thought it was worth ten bucks to try it. Just a little dab on the right places. . Anyway, I've gotten tired of the powder residue that builds up on the head (tabla/bayan head, that is). I'll let you know what I think at some date soon.
Hey David thanks for bringing this up, I use pure talc right now, but have to use to much becuase my hands sweat more than any tabla players my teacher has ever seen. Sometimes I have a fan blow on my hands when i Play as to stop sweating and less use of powder. I would like something better, I was told corn starch was bad for the tabla. but my gabs are coated in white most of the time. Not very good at all.
theMonk (Jan 14, 2002 05:34 p.m.):
Hey David thanks for bringing this up, I use pure talc right now, but have to use to much becuase my hands sweat more than any tabla players my teacher has ever seen. Sometimes I have a fan blow on my hands when i Play as to stop sweating and less use of powder. I would like something better, I was told corn starch was bad for the tabla. but my gabs are coated in white most of the time. Not very good at all.
hi, go to your doctor and get a prescription for drysol. it's only for severe cases of excessive sweating of the hands. not for everybody. ask your doctor and see what he says. it's a condition called hyperhydrolysis. do your feet sweat as well? if so, then you probably have this condition.
Thank you for the information. Also David - I would be very cautious about using the product that you described on my drums. I have done a lot of lifting and what you refer to is commonly called "chalk" - not for nothing. .it is a chalky substance that I'm afraid could really gum up your gob when your hands got sweaty.
David, try to stay away from cornstarch. It gets sticky when it comes in contact with sweat. Use baby powder (aka talcum powder) that is made from talc.
