Mixing Tools

These tools are useful in mixing and preparing lubes:

Spatula

Stirring device useful for folding liquids (specifically liquid lubes) into whipped lipids (such as fluffy Crisco).

Shaker

Any container with a closed lid that allows mixing of emulsifiers with water via vigorous shaking.

Whisk / Whisk Attachment

Stirring devices that decrease clumping of powdered lubes due to the wire-like design, also helpful in creaming lipids.

Stick Blender / Immersion Blender

Small stick blenders suitable for 1) travel and 2) use in cylindrical containers.

Hand Mixer

Hand mixer suitable for 1) whipping solid lipids into creams and 2) combining water with powder while boiling or microwaving.

Blender / Bullet Blender

Multi-speed blenders for mixing less viscous lubes at low speeds. Fast speeds slice molecular chains and decrease lubricity.

Food Processor

Blender-like mixers that whip highly viscous materials such as shortenings and gums.

Mix Master / Stand Mixer

Stationary mixers that can whisk solid lipids into creams and powdered lubes into liquids.

Stove

Heating unit that increases the lubricity and clarity of PEO-based lubes.

Microwave

Heating unit that increases the lubricity of PEOs and can result in extremely viscous, highly aerated lubes.

Measuring Devices

With experience, most fisters are able to prepare lube without any measuring devices. This results in small variances by batch that are often irrelevant to a fisting session. Some fisters desire verify specific qualities associated with their lube and therefore use exact measurements.

Wet Measurements

There are three standards used for liquid measurement: Imperial (USA), Metric, and Apothecary.

Metric measurements are typically in milliliters (mL). Imperial measurements are in teaspoon (tsp), tablespoon (tbsp), cup, or fluid ounce (fl oz). Apothecary measurements use a single unit: drops.

Regular sessions typically use between 250 and 500 mL (1 - 2 cups or 8 - 16 fl oz) of lube. For reference, a standard bottle of water is 500 mL.

VOCABULARY

Apothecary System

Noun Phrase A historical system of measurement primarily used in pharmacy and medicine with common units of minum (min), dram (dr), gill (gi), and drop (gtt).

Pyrex Measuring Cup — Figure 2.1: Wet Measuring Cup

Liquid measurements are most accurate in wet measuring cups, which are typically transparent with a spout.

Dry Measurements

Dry ingredients use weight or volume, with volume the most common measurement standard.

Volume Measurements

Imperial volumes include teaspoons (tsp), tablespoons (tbsp), fluid ounces (fl oz), or cups. The unit of measurement for volume in the metric system is milliliter (mL), although liter (L) or half liter may be used to reference 1000 and 500 mL respectively.

When using the imperial system, the ingredients should be leveled off in the measuring cup or spoon unless the recipe calls for "heaping".

Dry Measurement Set — Figure 2.2: Dry Measuring Spoons and Cups

Volume measurements of dry ingredients are most accurately measured in dry measuring cups or spoons.

Weight Measurements

Imperial units of measurement for weight include ounces (oz) and pounds (lbs). Metric weight measurements use grams (g).

Many kitchens do not have scales, so weight measurements may need to be converted to volumes. Density, and thus weight, can change with liquids, lipid-based lubes, and petroleum-based lubes. The most common recipe items that call for weight measurements include emulsifiers and lipids. See Table 3.2 for conversion factors for emulsifiers and Crisco.

Measurement Conversion

Conversion Charts

Volume Conversions

Imperial	Metric
Teaspoon	5 mL
Tablespoon	15 mL
Cup	250 mL
Fluid Ounce	30 mL

Imperial	Imperial
1 Tablespoon	3 Teaspoon
2 Tablespoon	1 Fluid Ounce
8 Fluid Ounces	1 Cup
16 Tablespoons	1 cup

Apothecary	Metric
20 drops	1 mL
1 drop	0.05 mL

Table 3.1 [ A - C ]: Conversion Tables by Volume

Conversion factors for metric, imperial, and apothecary measurements.

QUICK REFERENCE

Google Unit Converter

Weight Conversions^*

Emulsifiers (PEOs / Gums)

Volume	Weight
15 mL	7.5 g
5 mL	2.5 g
1 mL	0.5 g
Tablespoon	7.5 g
Teaspoon	2.5 g

Crisco

Volume	Weight
Cup	0.5 Pound
240 mL	0.5 Pound
30 mL	1 Ounce
Tablespoon	14 g
Teaspoon	4.7 g

General / Standard

Metric	Imperial
1 kg	2.2 pounds

Imperial	Imperial
16 Ounces	1 pound

Table 3.2 [ A - C ]: Conversion Tables by Weight and Density

Volume to weight conversions based on density of emulsifiers (alphabet lubes and gums) and Crisco.

QUICK REFERENCE

Google Unit Converter

Weight generally varies by substance. These charts are based on content packaging or the weight of water. Some emulsifiers are slightly lighter and some are slightly heavier.