Not all stone repairs are the same — and not all adhesives are either. Use the wrong one and you'll end up with a repair that's visible, weak, or simply won't hold. Use the right one and the damage disappears.
This guide breaks down the four adhesive systems we carry for stone repair, when to use each, and how they work together for a complete repair toolkit.
The Four Systems at a Glance
| System | Best For | Cure Time | Color Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyanoacrylate (TeFill) | Hairline cracks, small chips | Seconds (with activator) | Clear or tinted |
| Knife Grade Polyester | Surface chips, voids, seams | 12–15 min | White, Buff, or custom |
| Knife Grade Epoxy (Fixtop) | Bonding, laminating, wet areas | Varies | Clear |
| Epoxy Crack Consolidation (Epoxart) | Structural crack repair, slab reinforcement | Hours | Clear/natural |
Cyanoacrylate — TeFill System
Best for: Hairline cracks, surface fissures, small chips, and fast field repairs.
Cyanoacrylate is the fastest repair adhesive in the stone shop. The TeFill system uses two viscosities — thin and thick — paired with an activator that triggers cure in seconds.
- TeFill 1 — Thin — water-thin formula that wicks into hairline cracks by capillary action. Use for fissures, surface scratches, and tight narrow defects where you need the adhesive to self-level into the crack.
- TeFill 2 — Thick — gel consistency that stays in place. Use for larger chips, voids, and vertical surfaces where TeFill 1 would run out.
- TeFill 3 — Activator Pump (2 oz) — spray over either adhesive to cure in seconds. Also available as a 6 oz aerosol for high-volume shops.
Best value: The TeFill Chip Repair Kit includes TeFill 1, 2, and 3 in one package — the fastest way to get started.
When NOT to use cyanoacrylate: Wet areas, outdoor installations, or repairs requiring structural strength. Cyanoacrylate is fast and convenient but not waterproof or load-bearing.
Knife Grade Polyester — Colored & Transparent
Best for: Surface chip repair, void filling, seam work, and edge repairs where color matching matters.
Knife grade polyester is the workhorse of stone surface repair. Its thick, putty-like consistency holds shape on vertical and horizontal surfaces without sagging, and cures to a glossy, polishable finish that blends with the surrounding stone.
- Tenax Colored Knife Grade Polyester — available in White and Buff to match the most common stone tones. Custom colors available on request. Mix with Tenax Hardener at 100:2–3 ratio.
- Tenax Tixo Xe Transparent Knife Grade — clear base ideal for white, light-veined, or translucent stone where a colored mastic would show through. Cures in 12–15 minutes with a 4–5 minute working window.
Hardeners required: Both polyester products require a Tenax Hardener catalyst — available in 45ml, 118ml, and 180ml sizes.
When NOT to use polyester: Wet areas, outdoor installations, or structural bonding. Polyester is interior-only and not waterproof.
Knife Grade Epoxy — Fixtop
Best for: Bonding stone to stone, metal to stone, ceramic to stone, honeycomb panels, and any wet area or outdoor installation.
Tenax Fixtop Knife Grade Epoxy is a true 100% two-part epoxy — not water-based. Unlike polyester, it does not dissolve or break down in water, making it the correct choice for shower surrounds, wet areas, and outdoor installations. It bonds a broader range of substrates than polyester: stone, ceramic, metal, hardwood, cement board, laminate, and honeycomb panels.
Available as a quart kit (Part A + B combined) or in gallon and 5-gallon sizes sold as Part A and Part B separately for high-volume shops.
When NOT to use Fixtop: Surface chip repair where color matching is needed — Fixtop cures clear and is designed for bonding and laminating, not cosmetic void filling.
Epoxy Crack Consolidation — Epoxart System
Best for: Structural crack repair, slab reinforcement, fiberglass mesh backing, and stabilizing fragile stone before fabrication.
The Epoxart system is a family of three professional two-part epoxies, each optimized for a different repair scenario:
- Epoxart Kit 2:1 — water-thin, water-clear. Wicks into hairline cracks by capillary action for deep consolidation. Use first when cracks need structural stabilization before surface repair.
- Epoxart Kit 3:1 — ultra-clear, slow-cure. Extended working time for crack filling where maximum transparency and control are needed. UV stable — suitable for outdoor stone.
- Epoxart Kit 4:1 — fast-cure, natural effect. No color change to the stone — the go-to for fiberglass mesh reinforcement on the back of slabs and high-volume production environments.
When NOT to use Epoxart: Small cosmetic chip repairs or field repairs where fast turnaround is needed. Epoxart is a structural system with longer cure times — it's the right tool for slab-level work, not countertop touch-ups.
For Larger Edge Chips — Universal Repair Kit
When the damage is too large for cyanoacrylate or polyester alone, the Tenax Universal Repair Kit steps in. It uses a plexiglass mold system to hold adhesive in place while it rebuilds edge profiles and larger surface voids. Five coloring pastes (white, yellow, red, blue, black) blend to match virtually any stone tone. This is the professional system for edge chip rebuilding that needs to be invisible.
Quick Decision Guide
- Hairline crack, fast repair → TeFill Chip Repair Kit
- Small chip, color match needed → Colored Knife Grade Polyester + Hardener
- Light or white stone, color match → Tixo Xe Transparent Knife Grade + Hardener
- Bonding, laminating, wet area, outdoor → Fixtop Knife Grade Epoxy
- Structural crack consolidation → Epoxart Kit 2:1 or 3:1
- Fiberglass slab reinforcement → Epoxart Kit 4:1
- Large edge chip rebuild → Universal Repair Kit
Shop All Tenax Repair Adhesives at Pro Tool Haus
Pro Tool Haus is a certified Tenax USA distributor. Browse our full selection of stone repair adhesives, hardeners, and accessories — with fast shipping and expert support.
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Questions about which system is right for your repair? Contact our team — we're happy to help.
Pro Tool Haus is a certified distributor of Tenax USA products. Browse our full selection at protoolhaus.com.