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June 25, 2008

Make your own fingerprint powder!


Every spy needs to be able to dust for prints!

Fingers, even dry ones, leave a thin fatty substance on objects. When left on glass, or some other shiny surface, you can put some fine dark powder on it, and lift it with some clear tape.

Real-life CSI forensic experts dust fingerprints with aluminum powder. But, since you probably don't have that on you right now...

Here's how to make some fingerprint powder yourself!


Fingerprint Powder Recipe

What you need:

  • Cornstarch (or starch powder)
  • A candle
  • 2 heat proof dishes
  • A plastic knife
  • A PARENT'S HELP

Put a little starch powder on a dish. Light the candle (let an adult help you with this!), and hold the second dish in the flame.

Remember, flames are HOT! Get your parent to help!

The candle flame will deposit soot on the second dish. Scrape this soot from the dish and deposit it on the starch powder. Keep doing this, until the amount of soot matches the amount of starch powder.

Mix the two together, and hey presto!

When your ready to lift a print, dust it generously. Then, blow the excess away from the fingerprint.

To lock the fingerprint in place, cover it with clear tape, and stick it on a clear card.

RECIPE VARIATIONS:

For white finger print powder - (Used to print dark surfaces) Simply use corn starch based baby powder!

A simple finger print powder - Can be made by mixing powdered graphite (available in the key section of your hardware store) with corn starch or talc!

Big fluffy blush brushes
- like your mother would use - make great "dusting brushes". (Ask permission first!)


1 comment:

HISstory said...

You know I realize that you copied this whole post from www.topspysecrets.com/fingerprint-powder.html... the least you could do was change the words some!