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Preparation of Tool Mark Standards with Jewelry Modeling Waxes |
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| Authors: | Nicholas Petraco MS DABC ; Nicholas DK Petraco PhD ; Lisa Faber MS ; and Peter A Pizzola PhD DABC |
| Institution: | Forensic Consultant to the New York City Police Department Forensic Investigations Division, 150-14 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432.; Department of Science, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, 899 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10019.; Faculty of Criminal Justice, Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10016.; Faculty of Chemistry, Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10016.; New York City Police Department Crime Laboratory, Trace Evidence Unit, 150-14 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432.; New York City Police Department Crime Laboratory, 150-14 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432. |
| Abstract: | Abstract: This paper presents how jewelry modeling waxes are used in the preparation of tool mark standards from exemplar tools. We have previously found that jewelry modeling waxes are ideal for preparing test tool marks from exemplar tools. In this study, simple methods and techniques are offered for the replication of accurate, highly detailed tool mark standards with jewelry modeling waxes. The techniques described here demonstrate the conditioning and proper use of jewelry modeling wax in the production of tool mark standards. The application of each test tool's working surface to a piece of the appropriate wax in a manner consistent with the tool's design is clearly illustrated. The resulting tool mark standards are exact, highly detailed, 1:1, negative impressions of the exemplar tool's working surface. These wax models have a long shelf life and are suitable for use in microscopic examination comparison of questioned and known tool marks. |
| Keywords: | forensic science tool marks tool mark comparison jewelry modeling wax |