For making test marks (for example, striation marks made by a screw driver) sheet-lead is often used. In most cases, a good alternative is a wax sheet. The sheets have a dimension of 190 x 90 mm and a thickness of 1.5 mm. Depending on personal preference and the ambient temperature the soft, normal, or hard variant is used.

The polyether casting compound Permadyne is an excellent material for use in preparing a replica of an object. Once the object (for example a tool) that needs to be examined has been cast with Permadyne, and a mold created this way, one or more high quality replicas can be made with (gray) Silmark silicone casting compound.

The Silmark replica is of such high fidelity that it can be used in microscopic comparison examinations. A replica is particularly convenient in comparative examinations between a tool and its impression when, for example, the tool is relatively large. The replica can be compared with the cast made at the actual crime scene instead of a cast made from a comparison mark. Positioning a large tool under the microscope can thus be avoided.

A replica has the added advantage that it can be kept at hand when the tool is returned to its place of origin.

Permadyne is available in two viscosities: high (pink-colored) and low (blue-colored) consistency. When the material must be pourable, as in casting the outsole of an athletic shoe, the low-consistency Permadyne can be used.

A package contains two tubes of base paste (120 ml each), two tubes of catalyst paste (15 ml each) and a mixing pad (18 x 2.5 cm siliconized paper, about 12 sheets).