A list of equipment and materials necessary for preparation of polished specimens is given in Table 1. For some items, substitution may be possible if comparable supplies are available in the laboratory. The list is presented in order of use of the equipment or supplies.
| Table 1. Equipment and Supplies for Preparation of Polished Sections | |
| Item | Purpose |
| Diamond blade slab saw | large-sized sample slabbing |
| Diamond blade wafering saw | cutting of thin (mm-sized) sections |
| Propylene glycol | diamond saw cutting lubricant |
| Alcohol: 200 proof ethanol | cutting lubricant, cleaning aid |
| Ultrasonic bath | specimen cleaning |
| Specimen jars and lids | for replacement steps |
| Potting epoxies (medium and low viscosity) | for powders and hardened pastes |
| Dye, blue or red, alcohol miscible | to estimate alcohol replacement depth |
| Refrigerator | epoxy storage |
| Vacuum chamber and pump | vacuum impregnation |
| Drying / curing oven | capable of at least 65 ºC |
| Glass plate (400 x 400 mm) | smooth surface for grinding |
| Lapidary wheel (minimum 200 mm) | grinding and polishing |
| Mold cups | potting specimens |
| Aluminum foil (extra heavy duty) | for forming odd-sized specimen molds |
| Mold release | facilitates removal of specimen / epoxy |
| Metal trays to hold specimens | contains any leaking epoxy |
| Diamond pen | label engraving |
| Abrasive papers (silicon carbide) | coarse to fine grinding, 100 to 600 grit |
| Polishing cloths (low-relief) | µm and finer polishing |
| Diamond paste for polishing | 6, 3, 1, 0.25 µm in non-aqueous suspension |
| Lint-free cloths | specimen handling and cleaning |
| Compressed air | specimen cleaning and drying |
| Vacuum dessiccators | specimen storage |