"Colin Wilson" wrote in message
t...
so the question is.... is there a suitable everyday UK alternative ?

Talc - probably :-}


No, AIUI talc or French chalk use to be used with the old cotton rubber
cable (i.e. single core cable for conduit installation), I've certainly come
across chalk residue in old installation in the past whilst replacing (many
years ago) cotton covered with PVC cable.

I can't what used to be suggested for PVC but it wasn't chalk.