Meet Thixo: The No-Drip Epoxy Adhesive
April 2026
Whether you're restoring a worn-out chair, repairing a rotting door frame, rebuilding a swim platform, or making a fast fix before the tide comes in, having the right epoxy adhesive on hand makes all the difference. TotalBoat Thixo has been a go-to for boatbuilders, woodworkers, and DIYers for years — and we've refined the lineup to make choosing the right product simpler than ever.
Here's everything you need to know about these four purpose-built products, each designed for a specific set of jobs.
Thixo Fast being used on a Jarvis Board kit
Why Thixo? The Cartridge Advantage
Before we dive into the individual products, it helps to understand what makes TotalBoat Thixo different from traditional two-part epoxies.
With most two-part epoxy resins, you're measuring, mixing, and hoping you got the ratio right. With Thixo, the resin and hardener sit in separate chambers inside a single cartridge. Attach a static mixing tip, load it into a standard caulk gun, and squeeze — the two components blend automatically at the correct ratio as they dispense. No mixing cups. No stir sticks. No mess.
When you're done, leave the tip in place and cap it. When you come back to the project, swap in a fresh tip and keep going. It’s a simple and clean system and nothing wasted gets wasted.
All Thixo products use this cartridge-and-tip system.
The TotalBoat Thixo Lineup
Thixo: Built to Do It All
Best for: Bonding, sealing, gap filling, filleting
If there's one Thixo to keep stocked in the shop at all times, it's the original. Thixo is a thickened 2:1 epoxy adhesive engineered to do a little bit of everything, and do it well.
The thixotropic viscosity (that's the "thixo" in the name) means it's thick enough not to sag on vertical or overhead surfaces, but still spreads smoothly and pulls cleanly into fillets. It bonds strongly to wood, metal, aluminum, fiberglass, concrete, glass, tile, stone, and more. At 77°F, you get 45–60 minutes of working time, with a gel time of 30–35 minutes once applied. Full cure at 72 hours. Once cured, it can be sanded, painted, drilled, or machined.
Typical applications: Bulkheads, deck cleats, rub rails, gunwales, fillets, deck-hull seams, stitch-and-glue construction, furniture repair and restoration, chair and cabinet joints, door and window frame repair, filling voids and gaps in wood, sealing plumbing and hatches, concrete and masonry patching, and general home repair.
Available in: 185 ml single cartridge (with 2 static mixing tips) or 6-pack
Thixo Fast Cure: Built for Speed
Best for: Maximum-strength bonding, fast turnaround
Need it done fast? Thixo Fast Cure is the strongest cartridge-dispensed 2:1 epoxy adhesive we know of, and it cures more than 3x faster than standard Thixo. With a gel time of just 10 minutes at 77°F, it sets up quickly so you can move on. It's sandable and ready to accept high loads in as little as 4 hours.
It handles the same bonding and sealing jobs as original Thixo, with one important distinction: it's not formulated for gap filling, so keep that in mind when planning your project.
Typical applications: Emergency hull repairs, re-securing cleats or hardware before launch, bonding metal brackets and structural supports, quick furniture fixes, reattaching trim or molding, and any structural repair where you need to get back to work or back on the water fast.
Available in: 185 ml single cartridge (with 2 static mixing tips) or 6-pack
Thixo Flex: Built for Movement
Best for: Wooden boat building, flexible bonds, difficult-to-bond materials
Boats move. They flex, vibrate, expand, and contract with temperature and humidity changes — and the adhesive holding them together has to keep up. That's exactly what Thixo Flex was designed for.
This pre-thickened, flexible epoxy adhesive uses a 1:1 mix ratio and cures to a buff/caramel color. Its bonds stay strong and resilient under the stresses of expansion, contraction, vibration, and shock that wooden boats and their parts experience constantly.
What really sets Thixo Flex apart is its ability to bond materials that give other adhesives trouble, including oily tropical hardwoods like teak, wet or damp surfaces, and aluminum, which is a notoriously hard metal to bond. It also works on glass, ceramics, and a wide range of plastics (ABS, PVC, HDPE, LDPE, polycarbonate). With a generous working time of 75 minutes at 77°F and a minimum application temperature of just 40°F (lower than the other Thixos), it's a versatile tool in any boatbuilder's kit.
Typical applications: Building and repairing wooden boats (kayaks, canoes, lapstrake hulls), bonding flexible or vibration-prone parts, bonding teak and other oily hardwoods, multi-material assemblies.
Available in: 250 ml single cartridge (with 2 static mixing tips).
Thixo PRO: Built for Bigger Jobs
Best for: Large-scale bonding, filleting, tabbing, and gap filling
Thixo PRO is the original Thixo formula with the same trusted performance and same 2:1 mix ratio, packed into a 450 ml cartridge that holds about 2.5x more adhesive. That means fewer cartridges needed, less downtime, and better value per ounce on large projects.
If you're doing a full boat restoration, a major structural repair, or any project that burns through cartridges fast, PRO is the smarter choice. It uses the same working time and cure schedule as standard Thixo, and handles the same range of applications.
Note: Thixo PRO requires the Thixo PRO 2:1 caulk gun (sold separately).
Typical applications: Everything original Thixo handles, just at larger scale. Bulkheads, deck work, stitch-and-glue construction, filleting, gap filling, sealing, furniture builds, home repair, and RV/auto repairs.
Available in: 450 ml single cartridge (with 2 static mixing tips) or 6-pack
Jackman Works using Thixo Pro on a portable bar
Which Thixo Is Right for You?
Here's a quick cheat sheet:
- Need one product for everything? → Start with Thixo
- Working fast or need maximum strength? → Reach for Thixo Fast Cure
- Building or repairing a wooden boat, or bonding parts that flex? → Go with Thixo Flex
- Tackling a big job and don't want to keep changing cartridges? → Thixo PRO is your pick
All four products work above and below the waterline, dispense cleanly from a standard caulk gun (Thixo PRO requires its own gun), and come with two static mixing tips. Extra tips are available separately in packs of 2, 12, and 60 — always smart to keep a few on hand.
Pro Tips for Working with TotalBoat Thixo
Surface prep matters. Clean, dry, and lightly abraded surfaces give you the best bond. For oily hardwoods, Thixo Flex is specifically engineered to handle this, but a quick wipe with acetone never hurts on other substrates.
Temperature affects cure time. All working times listed are at 77°F. Cooler temps will extend working and cure times; warmer temps will shorten them. Thixo Flex can be applied down to 40°F — a handy feature for cold-weather projects.
You don't always need the mixing tip. For small jobs, squeeze out what you need into a cup and mix by hand with a stir stick. Save the tips for larger applications.
Save your cartridge between uses. Leave the used tip in place — it acts as a plug. When you're ready to work again, swap in a fresh tip. For longer storage, remove the tip and replace the cap
Ready to Get to Work?
TotalBoat Thixo epoxy adhesive delivers professional results whether you're building from scratch, making repairs, or tackling maintenance. Pick your Thixo, get to work, and create results you’ll be proud of.
Have questions about which Thixo product is right for your project? Reach out to our team at info@totalboat.com
