Ingredient Selection

Bases, additives, and water are the primary ingredients in fisting lube recipes.

Bases (Principal Ingredient)

A lubrication base is the primary active ingredient responsible for providing lubricity and viscosity. Lubrication bases are often grouped into two broad categories: water-based and oil-based. Water-based lubes are created from powders or certain fluids, such as glycerine. Oil-based lubes include lipids, such as Crisco and plant oils, as well as petrolatum distillates, such as petrolatum (Vaseline) and paraffinum liquidum (mineral oil).

Most fisters use greater specificity to refer to their lube bases. For example, they will use Alphabet Lube or PEO-based Lube rather than water-based lube to refer to a lube with polyethylene oxide as the active ingredient.

QUICK REFERENCE

Lubrication Bases

VOCABULARY

Lubrication Base

Noun Phrase The primary or principal ingredient that gives a lube its lubricity or slipperiness.

Selection Criteria

Fisters select different bases for various reasons:

Availability | Finding specialty lubes can be difficult. A common fallback is lipid-based lubes such as shortening (Crisco) and plant oils.
Lubricity and Viscosity | Personal preferences dictate selection. Decisions are based on the hole's response to the silkiness, slipperiness, and thickness of a lube.
Cost | The per mL (fl oz) cost of some lubes is prohibitive. For example, most silicone lubes are too expensive to use as a general fisting lubricant. On the other hand, the alphabet lubes produce many liters (gallons) of lube for a relatively low price.
Health Concerns | Most lube bases are not organic and there are no studies that address how lubes affect the body in the short or long term. In some cases, lubes may be avoided for blood sugar reasons.

Crisco Fisting — Figure 1.1: Lubricity Considerations

Lipid-based lubes, like Crisco, often create more drag (and have less lubricity) than PEO-based lubes. Some fisters enjoy the extra drag provided by lipids.

Expiration Dates

Bases have expiration dates.

Lipids such as Crisco will go rancid with time. Rancid oils may smell odd or look discolored. Most food grade lipids have expiration dates on product packaging.

Crisco Storage and Longevity

Shelf life of Crisco products at room temperature.
Crisco Product	Longevity at Room temperature
Can – Sealed	2 years from date of manufacture
Can – Opened	~1 year
Sticks – Sealed	2 years from date of manufacture
Sticks – Opened	~6 months

Table 1.1: Package Date Expiration for Crisco Products

Length of guaranteed freshness varies based on the product line. Storage within the fridge or freezer makes little difference to longevity.

Glycerine-based lubes (like Wet, Astroglide, KY Jelly) and emulsifying powders (PEOs and gums) degrade and lose their lubricity over time. If packaging has expiration dates, discard when appropriate. Many alphabet lubes do not list expiration dates on the packaging. When an alphabet lube no longer creates the desired lubricity with your standard recipe, it is time to discard it.

Lubrication Expiration Date — Figure 1.2: Package Date Expiration

Many products have *Best if Used By* dates; however, once opened, a product can degrade prior to the expiration date. Recording the opened date helps gauge freshness.

Additives

Many fisters modify their non-commercial lubes to provide additional characteristics that enhance the fisting experience:

Numbing Agents | Over-the-counter analgesic creams or oils that decrease discomfort during a session.
Anti-Inflammatories | Oils and over-the-counter creams that reduce swelling of irritated tissue.
Odorizers/Aromatics | Oils that provide pleasant scents and mask unpleasant odors, including fecal smells and the lingering scent of Crisco.
Preservatives and Antimicrobials | Various oils, creams, and even commercial lubricants that decrease colonization of lubes by micro-organisms.
Warming and Cooling Agents | Oils, creams, and salves that trigger warming and cooling sensations within the fist chute.
Reparative Agents | Certain vitamins and over-the-counter medicines, such as hemorrhoid creams, that relieve pain and foster regeneration of the mucosal lining.

QUICK REFERENCE

Essential Oils as Additives — Figure 1.3: Properties of Essential Oils

Many essential oils provide anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and analgesic properties to a lube. Clove is the most common oil additive.

Adding pharmaceutical agents, such as anti-inflammatory and numbing medication, can be harmful to your kidneys and liver. Absorption of topical agents in the fist chute is many times greater than that of your skin. A recommended external dose can be an internal overdose.

Likewise, the addition of chems to lube, specifically meth, can damage the intestinal lining and result in serious medical conditions that may limit your fisting, including perforations, IBS, proctitis, and diverticulitis. Use with caution.

Water Considerations

Recipes that use powdered emulsifiers, such as J Lube and xanthan gum, often require adding water to hydrate the principal ingredient.

Discolored Lubrication — Figure 1.4: Lube Discoloration with Tap Water

Using tap water instead of distilled or bottled water will introduce chemicals that may cause lube discoloration.

Bottled Water

Bottled, distilled, or boiled water is preferable for preparing lube. Tap water contains chemicals that can interact with the lube and reduce its shelf life or lubricity.

The standard water bottle is roughly 500 mL (16 fl oz or two cups). Most recipes are calculated for this exact volume of water—making the use of measuring cups unnecessary.

Water to Lube Ratio

In most cases, it's better to add too little water to a recipe rather than too much water. While more water can be added to a lube that is too viscous, adding powder to a lube that is runny will result in clumping or other unexpected results in complex recipes.

In alphabet lubes, viscosity and lubricity are based on the water-to-PEO ratio. While preferences vary, the manufacturers have provided their recommendations, which are compiled into the golden ratio table.

QUICK REFERENCE

Lubrication Science: Golden Ratio

Protocols

Protocols include standard practices and etiquette followed by the majority of the fisting community. Typically, these are things that new fisters pick up over time.

Etiquette

Etiquette refers to how you treat others in a specific fisting scenario.

Techniques and Guides

Mixing Techniques

Various mixing techniques are used in preparing lubes:

Drizzle | Involves gradual sprinkling of powdered lubricant into water during the mixing process. The intention is to reduce clumping.

Example Recipe

The Schultz

Applicable Base(s)

PEO, Polysaccharides, Waterlock
Stir | Involves using a spoon or spatula to mix ingredients.

Example Recipe

Guar Gum

Applicable Base(s)

Polysaccharides, Propylene Glycol
Shake | Uses sports bottles with (or without) wire or plastic balls to mix powders. This is the most effective mixing method for emulsifiers because it does not break up the long polymer strings that provide lubricity.

Example Recipe

Quick Prep (Shake & Go) J Lube

Applicable Base(s)

PEO, Polysaccharides, Waterlock
Whisk | Similar to stirring, uses a whisk to mix ingredients. The whisk is an improvement over the spoon but still may result in some clumping.

Example Recipe

Alpine Silk J Lube

Applicable Base(s)

PEO, Polysaccharides, Waterlock
Fold | Combines two ingredients together in small incremental batches with a spatula. Folding usually involves combining a highly viscous material with a less viscous material.

Example Recipe

FFeral Cream

Applicable Base(s)

PEO, Lipids
Beat | Whips the ingredients together at high velocity with various types of mixers including the mix master, hand blender, and food processor. Resulting lubes are usually creams or solids.

Example Recipe

Tate Z

Applicable Base(s)

PEO, Polysaccharides, Waterlock, Petroleum Distillates, Lipids
Blend | Prepares low-viscosity liquid lubes that are easily poured into squeeze bottles. The blender, stick blender, and hand blender are all suitable options, though PEO lubes usually climb up a hand blender into the stirring mechanism.

Example Recipe

FFlexiGlaze

Applicable Base(s)

PEO, Polysaccharides, Waterlock, Petroleum Distillates, Lipids

David and Moira - Schitt's Creek — Figure 3.1: Fold in the Cheese

Folding is a rarely used process in most lube recipes, but it can be used to mix liquid alphabet lubes into whipped shortening. See Schitt's Creek *Fold in the Cheese*.

Procedural Guides

The following guide(s) will help you:

Steps / Procedure

In a dry shaker bottle, add a limited amount of warm water:
- For 500 mL shakers, the initial portion will be 1/3 to 1/2 the total volume of water in the recipe.
- For larger shakers, fill the bottle with at least 5 cm (2 inches) of water.
- For bottles with a mixing ball, add enough water to cover the ball by at least 2.5 cm (1 inch).
Step 1: Addition of Water
Slant the bottle slightly to increase surface area of the water.

Step 2: Slanted Bottle
If possible, drizzle the powder into the slanted bottle to reduce heaping; otherwise, scoop the powder into the mixing bottle.

Step 3: Drizzle Powder
Leaving the bottle slanted, close the cap/lid and shake vigorously for one minute.
Remove the cap, add the remaining water, recap, and shake vigorously for two minutes.
Remove the cap for two minutes to allow air bubbles to rise to the surface and dissipate.

Step 6: Dissipate Air
Set the bottle/shaker on its side for 10 minutes, then reshake for 60 seconds. Repeat three times.

Step 7: Diminish Iceburging

SUPPLIES

Shaker bottle
Measuring equipment
Plastic wrap or wax paper

QUICK REFERENCE

Print These Instructions | View Demo

Additional Insights

If you mix lube in the bottle you use during play, its nipple can become clogged with powder clumps. To prevent this, cover the opening of your bottle with wax paper or plastic wrap before attaching the lid. This keeps powder from entering the nozzle while you shake the bottle.

Steps / Procedure

Most recipes will provide detailed mixing instructions when immiscible ingredients are used. If no instructions are provided, then consider the following steps:

Prepare the immiscible ingredients.

For oil-based lubricants, you may need to:
- Melt solid oils into a liquid form, or
- Whip solid oils into a fluffy solid
For water-based ingredients, you may need to:
- Pre-mix the lubrication (if using powdered lube)
- Use warm or hot water when mixing bases
Step 1: Base Preparation
Identify the thicker ingredient as your primary base.
In a mixing bowl, mixmaster, blender, or food processor, add the primary base and begin mixing at a moderate speed.

Step 3: Moderate Speed
Slowly pour the less viscous ingredient (your secondary base) into the mix while continually mixing at moderate speed.

Step 4: Add Secondary
Increase the speed to high until the ingredients are fully blended.

SUPPLIES

Mixing appliance
Measuring equipment
Stove or microwave (optional)

QUICK REFERENCE

Print These Instructions View Demo

Additional Insights

Add 125 mL (1/2 cup) of premixed xanthan gum into recipes with immiscible ingredients. You may need to add silicone lube or another anti-microbial additive to deter fungal and bacterial growth.

Steps / Procedure

Cover the baking sheet with wax paper.

Step 1: Wax Paper
Allow the shortening to warm to room temperature.
Scoop a dollop of shortening with the selected tool to ensure it is as round as possible.

Step 3: Round Balls
OPTIONAL: Roll the ball in a bowl of powdered J-lube.

Step 4: J-lube Coating
If necessary, smooth away any rough edges from the formed ball and then place on the baking sheet.
OPTIONAL: Refrigerate or freeze if desired.

SUPPLIES

Baking sheet
Wax paper
Ice cream or cookie scoop

QUICK REFERENCE

Print These Instructions | View Demo

Additional Insights

Some recipes call for coating the ball with pre-mixed alphabet lube rather than powdered J-lube.

Keep formed balls separated on the cookie sheet to prevent malformation.

Steps / Procedure

Mix your alphabet lube to desired consistency.
Pour the lube into a silicone ice mold.
Cover with plastic wrap and freeze.

SUPPLIES

Silicone ice cube mold
Plastic wrap

QUICK REFERENCE

Print These Instructions | View Demo

Additional Insights

Consider the dimensions of lube cubes and recall that cubes can cause tissue damage within the rectum. Large cubes take longer to melt and may cause injury and extreme constriction within the fist chute.

If you must use lube cubes, try smaller molds that will melt quickly.

Best Practices

The characteristics and quality of lube can affect the responsivity of the hole. Lube of poor quality can decrease play time, increase wear and tear on the hole, trigger hole closure, spread infections, and diminish the intensity of play.

General Methodologies

Any fister who bottoms should be familiar with these principles and concepts associated with lube preparation and storage:

Microbial Colonization

Preventing Fungal and Bacterial Growth

The shelf life of any lubrication without preservatives is dependent upon your local environmental conditions; your hygienic practices regarding your tools and containers; and preservatives.

During preparation, microbial contamination may originate from the following sources:

Equipment | Mixers, bowls, bidons (bottles), and various utensils—even after cleaning—often harbor microorganisms that can transfer into the lubricant during mixing or handling.
Body / Skin | The body’s surface contains a range of microbial life. The naturally occurring organisms on the skin are harmless when modulated by one another, but isolated in lube, they may become problematic. Infectious agents from poor hygiene may also be present on the skin. Any direct contact with lubricant introduces this flora, raising the likelihood of microbial growth.
Environment | Airborne contaminants, especially fungal and yeast spores, can settle into lubricant during open-air exposure. Although less common, nearby surfaces may also contribute to contamination.

Figure 4.1: Shower Mold Indicates Fungal Spores

Even the smallest bit of shower mold is indicative of mold/yeast spores floating around your home.

Washing your hands and using clean tools are the only mitigation strategies to reduce microbial exposure during preparation. Even so, these strategies are of limited effectiveness because your kitchen is not a sterile environment.

Remember that after preparation, almost all lube has a short shelf life.

Equipment Sanitization

Decreasing Preparation Contaminants

Using clean equipment during preparation, dispensing, and storage may extend the lube’s shelf life.

Make sure all items are clean, free of residue, and old lube prior to using them to make a fresh batch of lube.

Figure 4.3: Autoclave for Sterilization

Unless you have an autoclave at home, your tools and containers will not be sterile. Alternate methods of sanitization, such as dishwashers and bleach solutions will reduce but not eliminate microorganisms.

Ingredient Storage

Storing Bases and Additives

Ingredients should be stored in cool, dark places. Some lipids require refrigeration while others do not.

Clump Prevention

Preventing Clumps of Undissolved Lube

Powdered lubes, which include the alphabet lubes and some polysaccharides (specifically gums), may form large clumps if not mixed properly.

To avoid clumping, consider the following:

Mixture Order | In most circumstances, adding water prior to adding powder decreases the likelihood of clumping.^*
Water Temperature | Lubes tend to dissolve in warm or hot water more easily than in cold water.
Available Surface Area | Powder that is sprinkled across a larger surface area will clump less than powder concentrated (or piled up) in a single area.
Headspace | In a mixing bottle, limited space between the fluid and the bottle top decreases the amount of kinetic energy and surface area that are available to mix lube. The ideal ratio of headspace to fluid is 50:50. Additional water can be added after the initial shaking cycle.
Limited Saturation | While counterintuitive, allowing the powder to soak in enough water to become fully saturated prior to mixing or shaking will result in extensive clumping.
Increased Speed | Vigorous shaking disperses the lube throughout the mixing bottle and produces the best results if done immediately after adding the powder to liquid.

In some preparation methods, powder can be added prior to water, but these methods require specific shaker bottles and very specific steps that prevent clumping.

VOCABULARY

Headspace

Noun a person's state of mind or mindset.
Noun the unfilled space left above the contents in an unsealed container.

Myths and Misconceptions

Most lubrication preparation myths and misconceptions originate from a lack of knowledge and are most common in novice fisters that have limited fisting experience and limited experience preparing lube.

QUICK REFERENCE

Myths and Misconceptions: Lubrication

Ingredient Quality

Claims or Assumptions

I can buy my specialty lubes on Amazon.

Alphabet lubes (in their powder state) do not go bad.

Reality

Lubes purchased from Amazon or even some specialty sex shops may be knockoffs and mix poorly.

Powders have been known to degrade, especially when exposed to poor climate conditions.

Remediation

Purchase lubes, especially powders, directly from the vendor if possible. Once a lube is in your possession, use a Sharpie to indicate your acquisition date and discard after three years. For additional information, see:

Disclosure

Claims or Assumption

It's unnecessary to inform the top about lube additives.

Reality

Your top may be allergic to certain ingredients or may have medical reasons for avoiding pharmaceutical additives. He may not be able to fist you when your lube puts his health at risk.

Remediation

Discuss any lube additives with your top before play. For additional information, see:

Additives and Enhanced Lube

Claims or Assumptions

Additives, such as numbing agents, are beneficial.

Using my lube and its special additives on my partner will definitely open him up better!

Reality

While numbing agents may extend play, they can also mask damage and cause health issues. Certain additives, like Voltaren cream, can cause kidney damage.

Additionally, numbing additives prevent natural pain mechanisms from warning you of injury.

When a bottom's hole isn't familiar with special additives like clove, lavender, or numbing creams, exposure to these agents can cause the hole to induce expulsion reflexes or even close up completely.

Remediation

Familiarize yourself with overdose symptoms for lidocaine. Avoid the use of acetaminophen containing additives (such as Voltaren). Study the potential health consequences of any lubrication additive.

Recognize that unfamiliar lube can shut down a hole rather than open it, so plan 'lube experimentation' strategically. Avoid new lubes at events and parties to ensure you can bottom for the duration of the event.

For moderate and advanced fisters, using a familiar lube with the right viscosity, lubricity, and consistency enables them to focus on relaxation instead of new sensations triggered by lube. For additional information, see:

Questions and Answers

Some fisters report clumpiness, stratification (when the lube sorts itself into layers of different viscosities), or an inconsistent, often runny viscosity.

There are three reasons why your lube may be acting differently:

Age | Your powder may be degrading due to age. If you've had the bottle for a long time, discard it and buy a new one. If you just bought the bottle from the maker of the lube or on Amazon, request a replacement bottle. If you bought the lube from a specialty store, it may have been on the shelf for a long time. Request a replacement bottle if possible.
Product Defect | Your powder may have come from a defective batch. If you recently bought the bottle, request a replacement bottle from the vendor. If you bought directly from the maker, they will likely send you a replacement bottle free of charge.
Water Source | You may have used water heavily treated by a public water system. Try using bottled or distilled water to mix your lube.

Fist Theory suggests you buy directly from the maker or from a vendor that experiences high turnover of fisting lubricant such as Mr. S in San Francisco or Mr. B in Amsterdam.

Avoid novelty stores and Amazon if possible. Amazon has some shady suppliers and novelty stores may have had unsold bottles on the shelf for years.

You can find links to the manufacturers in Fist Theory's Lubrication Marketplace.

Many fisters have different preferences, so it's difficult to identify the best lube.

Here are a few reasons why fisters choose certain lubes:

FFäusten | Geographic location: USA. It's pure PEO. It has single-use packets for travel. It sponsors many fisting clubs in the USA and Canada.
X Lube | Geographic location: European Union. It's pure PEO. Fisters report if feels less stringy than other PEO lubricants. It sponsors big events like FFistival and Fist Fest.
K Lube | Geographic location: UK. It's PEO with some preservatives. Its maker has sold fisting lubes for decades.
J Lube | Geographic location: USA. It's the oldest of the PEO-based lubricants. It has a dispersant that modifies the texture and lubricity. It is usually more stringy than other PEO-based lubricants. It can be mixed up two minutes before a session starts—there is no "sit" time in the preparation process.
Fuck & Fist - FF Powder | Geographic location: European Union. It's pure PEO. It has single-use packets for travel.
FFuck Dust | Geographic location: European Union. It's pure PEO. It has single-use packets for travel and fun packaging.

Any of the PEO lubes can kill you if you have been perforated, postpone treatment, and turn septic. J Lube might give bacteria a few hours head start on sepsis due to its sugar dispersant, but a perforation with any type of PEO lube eventually results in the same outcomes.

Advice from the Experts

Several seasoned fisters offer the following tips and counsel regarding lubrication preparation:

Category: Preparation, Alterations

Decreasing Viscosity through Cutting

Of all the powdered lubes, I prefer K lube because I feel that it cuts better than any of the other alphabet lubes.

By "cut" or "cutting", I mean if I mix it too thick, I can add water later to decrease the thickness. Cutting probably works with all of the other alphabet lubes, but you can't do the opposite. You can't add powder to runny lubes to make them thicker. It never turns out well and always results in big clumps of lube in your bottle.

Submitted by: Kingston | Top

Contact: @alphabutt2.fans

Years Experience: 7+

Category: Preparation, Hybrids, Waste

Mixing Small Batches of Hybrid Lube with Keurig

My lube of choice is a hybrid of Elbow Grease and K Lube, and while I prefer depth play, I don't fist for long periods of time and do not need a lot of lube for a single session.

My Keurig machine creates just the right amount of hot water to combine my ingredients together in a small squeeze bottle. I mix the hot water and K Lube first to prevent clumps. While it is still very hot, I add the Elbow Grease and then shake vigorously to combine all the ingredients into a creamy, slippery lube.

Submitted by: Cliff | Vers

Contact: cliff_dweller

Years Experience: 30+

Category: Preparation / Measurements

Using Sticks Instead of Measuring Cups

It may be cost effective to use a large tub of Crisco to make lube for a big event; however, it is a pain to measure out smaller portions of Crisco for personal use from that big-ass can. I've found that Crisco sticks make personal preparations and cleanup easier.

Instead of scooping Crisco into a cup and then compressing it with a spatula to ensure I've got the correct amount of shortening for my recipe, I just use the sticks. They come pre-packaged in-1 cup portions—just remove the wrapper and throw it in the mixmaster! There is no messy cleanup involved.

Submitted by: Kris | Vers

Contact: @DalBBFFDaddy

Years Experience: 15+

Category: Storage

Storing Lube for Future Sessions

I use 500 ml, glass kombucha bottles to mix my lube. Usually, I make four bottles at a time (about two liters). To prevent contamination and accidents involving broken glass, these bottles never enter the playroom. They remain in the kitchen.

When it's time to play, I transfer the contents of one bottle into a condiment bottle and a calf feeder. If I need more lube during a session, I return to the kitchen to refill my play-session bottles.

After the session, I discard any lube left in the playroom. I store the lube that remained in the kitchen in the fridge or freezer, depending on how long it will be until my next playdate. Before freezing a full bottle, I transfer at least 100 mL of lube to another bottle to leave room for expansion.

The next time I need lube, I take a bottle out of the freezer about two hours before play and soak it in hot water.

Submitted by: Finn | Vers

Contact: @depthvortex

Years Experience: 15+