The best polyester resins, compared.
Top pick: Rawlplug R-KEM II 300 ml Best value: TIMCO PE 300 ml – Lowest price among tubes whose UK reviews describe a set stud: about £10.30, 4.4 from 16, ventilated standard polyester, thin sample already noted. Updated 22 October 2026.
Polyester resin on a UK shelf covers more than one job. A laminating tin for glass-fibre work, a two-part injection cartridge for studs in masonry or concrete, and a knife-grade paste for natural stone can all carry that name. The cartridge and the stone paste are what you meet when the task is a threaded stud or a vertical stone repair. Fibreglass kits and printer resin are different buys. You tell a usable anchor cartridge by the chemistry claim, standard polyester or styrene-free, the dispenser it actually fits, a mixer nozzle in the box, and an approval that names the substrate. A clean hole, a mix that shows both components, and a cure wait taken from the label matter more than a surface that only feels firm. The practical split is ventilated standard polyester, styrene-free polyester for an enclosed room, and a paste that stays on a vertical stone face. Those checks, in that order, are in the [polyester resin buying guide](/hub/fillers-adhesives-and-sprays/polyester-resin/sub/polyester-resin-buying-guide).
Polyester resin on a UK shelf covers more than one job.
26 products checked · 62 hrs invested · +24,100 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you fixing?
Reviewers fitting threaded bar into concrete and brick with this 300 ml Rawlplug cartridge describe a strong set once the hole is free of dust and the mix has been pumped until it is grey, at about £12.10 with 4.5 from 134 amazon.co.uk reviews. The bullets call it styrene-free and odourless for interior use, and they say a standard manual or silicone gun will drive it. The working window in those 39 UK reviews is only minutes: sleeves can lock before the bar is in if several holes are filled first. A pale mix is reported not to set, and some people had to pull metal clips before the hardener would flow. The title promises threaded rods and two mixer nozzles, but parcels sometimes arrived with no rods, one nozzle, or broken nozzles. One applicator split at the base on first use. The amazon attribute prints a full cure of 4 weeks, which this page does not treat as the clock those reviews describe, and the water-resistance field says not water resistant. It is the styrene-free tube in this set for an indoor stud in crack-free concrete, if you open the bag before you drill.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Indoor studs in crack-free concrete with a normal silicone gun, after you check that rods and nozzles are actually in the bag.
Less suitable: A purchase made because the title promises a full fixing kit, or several holes filled before the bars go in.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say a normal silicone gun will work?
Yes. The bullets say standard manual and silicone dispensers.
Are rods and two nozzles guaranteed by the title?
The title says threaded rods and two mixer nozzles. UK reviews include parcels with no rods, one nozzle, or broken nozzles.
Is it sold as styrene-free?
Yes. The title says styrene-free and a bullet says odourless for interior applications.
In the 39 UK reviews read against this fischer listing, threaded rod set hard in concrete and masonry, including brick pillars, fence boards and handrails, at about £11.28 with 4.4 from 312 amazon.co.uk reviews. One trade review cited about 5 minutes on an emergency repair, and the listing calls the chemistry a polyester hybrid for masonry and non-cracked concrete. The same page does not state a millilitre fill and does not name a gun. Several deliveries had no mixer nozzle, so the two parts could not be combined. A pale or sandy mix that was still soft after 24 hours is also reported when the hardener stopped part-way down the tube. Some parcels were already past the use-by date, or the date had been rubbed off, and a pause mid-job blocked the nozzle so holes had to be re-drilled. It is the top pick in this set because that is the largest review file here that still describes a set stud, after the missing fill and the nozzle complaints.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Studs in sound masonry or non-cracked concrete when you already have a gun and you check the use-by date.
Less suitable: A job that needs a stated millilitre fill, or a tube you will pause mid-way without a spare mixer.
Specifications
Common questions
What fill volume does this listing state?
The listing does not state a millilitre fill. Tyre-catalogue rows on the same listing are not a resin size.
What arrives in the box?
The listing says 1 cartridge and 1 MR mixer. Some UK reviews report a missing nozzle.
Which substrates does the listing name?
Masonry and non-cracked concrete, for threaded rods, internal threaded anchors and anchor sleeves.
Five UK reviews of this 300 ml TIMCO cartridge describe a fast set on M10 chemical studs in a concrete footing and bolts that held for gate-hinge anchors in masonry, at about £10.30 with 4.4 from 16 amazon.co.uk reviews. The listing includes one T-Flow mixing nozzle and says the install should be well ventilated; styrene-free is not claimed. Those reviews also say a second session needs another nozzle, and drips set on fingers and on nut threads. One reviewer called the tube expensive next to other brands, although about £10.30 is the lowest cartridge price in this set. The water-resistance field says not water resistant, and the fire-rated line is a listing bullet only. Sixteen reviews is a thin sample next to the fischer file of 312. It is the best value here among tubes whose UK reviews describe a stud that held, with that thin sample already weighed.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A ventilated stud in concrete, brick or stone when you accept a standard polyester and you keep a spare nozzle for a second go.
Less suitable: An enclosed room, or a buy that needs a large review file before you commit.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say this cartridge is styrene-free?
No. The bullets say it is for areas that are well ventilated at the time of installation. Styrene-free is not claimed.
Is a mixer nozzle in the box?
Yes. The listing says a T-Flow mixing nozzle is included.
Which gun does the listing name?
This 300 ml listing does not name a gun.
Ten UK reviews of this 380 ml fischer cartridge describe studs that held in masonry and M12 bolts in a concrete base, at about £13.29 with 4.2 from 38 amazon.co.uk reviews. The listing names a polyester hybrid for masonry and non-cracked concrete, indoors and outdoors, with one MR mixer. The same reviews say the tube is too wide for a standard filler or silicone gun, because the plunger is a ring and needs a specialist gun. It goes off quickly enough that spare nozzles come up if the job is in stages. One review said it was not fully dry after 12 hours, and another would rather use the brand's vinylester for the hardest fixing. Styrene-free is not claimed. It is the coaxial option when you already own that gun and you want a stated 380 ml fill.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Masonry or non-cracked concrete studs when you already have the specialist gun for a coaxial cartridge.
Less suitable: A household silicone gun, or a job you will pause without spare nozzles.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the 380 ml cartridge fit a normal sealant gun?
UK reviews say no. The tube is too wide and the plunger is a ring, so it needs a specialist gun.
How much resin is in the listing?
380 ml. The attribute row includes 1 cartridge and 1 MR mixer.
Where does the listing say it can be used?
Masonry and non-cracked concrete, indoors and outdoors, with FIS A rods, FIS E internal anchors and sleeves.
The only UK review for this 410 ml Metalmate cartridge says the application straw was missing and calls the tube useless without it, at about £14.13 with 4.0 from 5 amazon.co.uk reviews. The bullets say there is no styrene, so it can be used indoors and in enclosed spaces, and they limit the duty to medium loads on a non-critical job. An ETA for concrete and masonry or hollow wall is a listing claim, not a load measured for this page, and the gun is not named. Nothing in that one review describes a cured stud or a working time. The listing first appeared on 23 July 2024, so the five-review file is still thin. Treat it as a styrene-free option only after you confirm the mixer is in the parcel and you know which gun drives a 410 ml tube.
Pros
Cons
Best for: An enclosed-room stud only after you confirm the mixer is in the box and you know the gun.
Less suitable: A first buy on the styrene-free line alone, or any job a missing straw would stop.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say it can be used indoors?
Yes. It says no styrene, so it can be used indoors and in enclosed spaces.
Did the UK review include a mixer?
No. The only UK review says the application straw was missing.
What duty does the listing claim?
Medium loads for a non-critical application, with an ETA claim for concrete and masonry or hollow wall. That ETA is a listing claim, not a load measured here.
The three UK reviews for this 410 ml TIMCO cartridge, rated 3.2 from 7 at about £10.40, do not describe a stud that held. They say a standard mastic or silicone gun will not drive the tube, even though the listing can read as ready to use. The bullets name an 8 inch resin gun and a T-Flow nozzle, for concrete, brick or stone. One parcel arrived cracked and broken, and the reviewer sent it back. Styrene-free is not claimed, and the fire-rated line is a listing bullet only. The price of about £10.40 does not help if you do not already own that resin gun.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A ventilated 410 ml tube when you already own an 8 inch resin gun.
Less suitable: A standard mastic or silicone gun, or a first cartridge chosen on price alone.
Specifications
Common questions
Will this 410 ml tube fit a standard mastic gun?
The listing says use an 8 inch resin gun. All three UK reviews say a standard mastic gun will not fit.
Is a mixer nozzle included?
Yes. The listing says a T-Flow mixing nozzle is included.
Does the listing claim it is styrene-free?
No. Styrene-free is not claimed on this listing.
This Harbro listing is a 1 kg knife-grade polyester paste at about £18.95 for filling and bonding marble, granite, onyx and travertine on a vertical face, in a clear colour, with a separate hardener in the box. The bullets say it stays put without sagging and that the cured surface can be polished and pigmented. There is no amazon.co.uk rating line and no UK review text, so there is no review evidence for how the mix behaves. It is not an injection cartridge and it has no static mixer, so it will not set a threaded stud. The water-resistance field says moisture resistant, which is a listing attribute, and the country of origin is China. It belongs with a stone repair you knife on, and it sits outside the stud comparison.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Vertical repairs on marble, granite, onyx or travertine that you spread with a knife.
Less suitable: Threaded studs, a mastic gun, or any buy that depends on amazon.co.uk reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this an injection cartridge for studs?
No. It is a knife-grade paste with a separate hardener for vertical stone repairs.
Which stones does the listing name?
Marble, granite, onyx and travertine. This colour on the listing is clear.
What is the amazon.co.uk rating?
The listing has no customer-reviews line and no UK review text, so no star rating is shown.
Seven amazon.co.uk polyester resin listings were scored on a 0–100 scale. Amazon evidence is 40 points, from the star rating, with a deduction when the count is under 50 and a larger deduction under 20. A listing with no rating line scores 0 on this block. Listing fit is 25 points: a stated fill, a named gun or an honest note that it is not a cartridge, a mixer or hardener in the box, and a named substrate score higher. A title that promises rods or two nozzles when UK reviews report otherwise is deducted, and a missing millilitre fill is deducted. Review outcome is 20 points: UK texts that describe a set stud score higher than a file that only discusses the wrong gun, a missing mixer, or a broken parcel. No review text scores 0. Value is 15 points, from the shelf price in GBP against a cartridge the reviews say you can dispense. The lowest price does not win when the reviews are about a gun you do not have. The stone paste is a different job, so it is not the value cartridge. The highest score is the top pick. The best cartridge per pound among tubes with a UK review that describes a set stud, after ventilation and the thin sample are already noted, is the best value. An ETA number is not scored as a measured load. A 4-week full-cure attribute on one listing is not scored as a cure. Prices are the amazon.co.uk shelf prices on 20 October 2026. This is not a laboratory test.
Amazon evidence
40%Star rating on amazon.co.uk scaled across this block, then a deduction when the count is under 50 and a larger deduction under 20. A listing with no rating line scores 0 here.
Listing fit
25%A stated fill, a named gun or an honest note that it is not a cartridge, a mixer or hardener in the box, and a named substrate score higher. A title that promises rods or two nozzles when UK reviews report otherwise is deducted, and a missing millilitre fill is deducted.
Review outcome
20%UK texts that describe a set stud score higher than a file that only discusses the wrong gun, a missing mixer, or a broken parcel. No review text scores 0.
Value
15%Shelf price in GBP against a cartridge the reviews say you can dispense. The lowest price does not win when the reviews are about a gun you do not have. The stone paste is a different job, so it is not the value cartridge.
Match the job first: a threaded stud needs an injection cartridge, a vertical stone face needs a knife-grade paste, and glass-fibre laminating is a different tin. Then read chemistry, the gun the tube actually fits, and whether a mixer is in the box.
Polyester resin on a UK shelf is three different buys that share a name. A threaded stud needs an injection cartridge. Marble, granite, onyx or travertine on a vertical face needs a knife-grade polyester with a separate hardener. Glass mat and a boat panel need a laminating tin and its own catalyst, which is outside this set, as is printer resin. The HSE note on styrene in contact moulding uses polyester resin in that glass-fibre sense, not as a cartridge stud.
A coaxial 380 ml cartridge and a 410 ml tube listed for an 8 inch resin gun do not run in a normal mastic gun. UK reviews on both say so. Buy the gun with the tube.
Dust left in the hole, or no waste extrusion so the mix stays pale or sandy, is why a tube does not set. Pump until both components show, and do not fill several holes before the bars go in.
Load at the label cure, not when the surface feels firm. A 4-week amazon attribute is not the Rawlplug table at about 20°C. A fixing-kit title does not guarantee rods and two nozzles.
A threaded stud needs an injection cartridge. Marble, granite, onyx or travertine needs a knife-grade polyester with a separate hardener. Glass mat and a boat panel need a laminating tin, which is outside this set. fischer FIS P Plus is a polyester hybrid for masonry and non-cracked concrete, with ETA-11/0419 and ETA-18/0383, used with the approved rods and sleeves. Rawlplug R-KEM II publishes ETA-12/0528 and UKTA-22/6108.
TIMCO describes PE polyester as non-safety-critical and for a well-ventilated install. The safety data sheet names styrene and dibenzoyl peroxide. Styrene-free polyester, on the Rawlplug and Metalmate listings, is the enclosed-room option. It is not a higher-load claim. The fischer UK page says the 300 T size runs in a stable standard silicone gun. The 380 ml coaxial tube and TIMCO's 410 ml, listed for an 8 inch resin gun, do not fit a normal mastic gun in the UK reviews.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are putting studs into sound brick or non-cracked concrete for gates, brackets or handrails, and you want the largest review file. fischer FIS P Plus is the top pick at about £11.28, 4.4 from 312 reviews, a polyester hybrid for masonry and non-cracked concrete. The listing does not state a fill or a gun, and some parcels had no mixer.
You are repairing marble, granite, onyx or travertine on a vertical face. Harbro Stonebond is a 1 kg knife-grade paste at about £18.95 with a separate hardener. The listing says it will not sag. There is no amazon.co.uk rating line. It is not an injection cartridge for a stud.
You are fixing a stud in an occupied or enclosed room and you want a styrene-free cartridge that the listing says fits a standard silicone gun. Rawlplug R-KEM II is 300 ml at about £12.10, 4.5 from 134 reviews. The title promises rods and two nozzles that UK reviews often do not find. Open the bag before you drill.
The top pick is the fischer FIS P Plus masonry listing at about £11.28: 4.4 from 312 amazon.co.uk reviews, a polyester hybrid for masonry and non-cracked concrete. UK reviews describe threaded rod that set hard in brick pillars, fence boards and handrails. The listing does not state a millilitre fill or a gun, and some parcels had no mixer nozzle, a sandy mix, or a date that had passed. The best value is TIMCO PE 300 ml at about £10.30, 4.4 from 16 reviews, with a T-Flow nozzle. It is ventilated standard polyester, not a styrene-free claim, and the review file is thin. It is the lowest price among tubes whose UK reviews describe a stud that held. The 410 ml tube at about £10.40 is not the best value, because those reviews are about a gun a standard mastic gun will not replace. The stone paste is a different job.
TIMCO PE 300 ml
Lowest price among tubes whose UK reviews describe a set stud: about £10.30, 4.4 from 16, ventilated standard polyester, thin sample already noted.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources used for this comparison. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts were taken from the listings on 20 October 2026.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk (tag pcuk26-21). If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the listings. This is not a laboratory test.
