Forced air powder application

[Kasey Wertheim]

I have searched online as well as the Hamm index for an article or articles I remember from my LPE training days involving the application of black powder using a forced air technique. Imagine your keyboard forced air application canister only it delivers an aerosol application of powder across the surface. I remember discontinued use due to non-ideal development when compared to brush application. And I remember the article in a "historical" context rather than reading about it as a present-day technique. However, I can't find the reference. Ring a bell with anyone?

[Ernie Hamm]

Not sure if this qualifies as 'forced air technique', but a form of aerosol processing was mentioned in the early IAS training material. A applicator device was also sold through IAS by way of the FP&I Magazine. It was called "The De Vilbiss Powder Blower" and was an atomizer device for processing large areas. Such processing is illustrated in Lesson VII (Latent Finger Prints) of the IAS course.

[Terry A. Smith]

Hi Guys.

Pictured are a couple of DeVilbiss powder blowers from our "Vault of Forensic Secrets". For grins I attempted to develop a test impression on my office window this morning. I will agree with Kasey's comment regarding "non-ideal development". My window looks like it was hit with a muzzle blast from some War of 1812 ( yeah, the one where Canada sent you boys packing ) firearms relic. Mind you, my application technique may have been a tad on the agressive side. I probably also should have been wearing self-contained breathing apparatus, judging by the amount of powder which seems to be all over my desk now !!

The DeVilbiss company is still manufacturing compressed air tools mostly, I think, for automotive paint applications.

Cheers from Niagara,
TAS

[josher89]

Henry Lee's book and Scott's Fingerprint Mechanics both mention the use of toner ink (from copiers) with the use of an atomizer as a form of latent print development. I haven't used it but I know from changing toner cartridges in our printers that the powder is superfine and gets all over everything.