Slippery Foundation

Fisting requires the acquisition and implementation of new skills and knowledge, especially with regards to lubrication. Becoming familiar with the language of lube, core principles associated with fisting lube, and the most commonly used lubes will help you integrate into the fisting community.

Lube Jargon and Glossary

Fisters use a variety of unique terms related to lube. These terms may be unfamiliar to new and inexperienced fisters.

Core Rationale

There are three reasons for applying lube: comfort, injury prevention, and connection.

Comfort

Lubrication decreases friction/drag and wear, two major contributors to discomfort during fisting.

With traditional anal sex, some drag/friction may be pleasurable. The drag/friction caused by a hard-on is minimal compared to a fist, wrist, and arm.

Liberal use of lube diminishes most of the discomfort caused by large objects penetrating or attempting to penetrate the fist chute.

Injury Prevention

Lube helps prevent various types of fisting injuries. Those injuries include microtears, fissures, and perforations.

Microtears take weeks to months to heal, fissures can require surgical intervention, and perforations can take almost a year to heal before fisting can occur again.

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Connection

The emotional bond achieved during fisting is linked to a bottom's confidence in the skills of his top.

Misapplication of lube or failure to follow standard practices and etiquette associated with lube affects this confidence.

Proper application of lube signals to a bottom that the top is experienced, attentive, and concerned about his bottom's well-being. This allows the bottom to relax and makes penetration at any depth easier.

Common Fisting Lubes

Many sex lubes are available, but not all work well for fisting. A lube needs to be slippery, last through play, and be easy to obtain and use. It must also be affordable, especially considering the amount needed for a single session.

Lubes that don't meet all these criteria are impractical for fisting (even though they can be used in a pinch). Among those that do meet all the requirements, personal preference essentially determines which lube is used.

The two most commonly used fisting lubricants are shortening, such as Crisco, and lubes made with a thickening agent called polyethylene oxide (PEO).

PEO is mixed with water to create a thick, slippery, pourable liquid. Shortening, a fatty lipid, is often solid at room temperature.

  • PEO
  • J Lube
  • K Lube
  • X Lube
  • FFäusten
  • Lipids
  • Crisco
  • Trex
  • Generic Shortening
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In addition to PEO and shortening, there are several commercial lubes that are "made-for-fisting" and are typically lipid-petroleum-PEO-silicone hybrids. These include brands such as Elbow Grease and Boy Butter.

While many sex shops sell fisting lubricants, the mark-up is pretty high. Lubes purchased directly from the vendor via a catalog or website are usually the best method for acquiring lube. Although Amazon and Ali Baba offer lubes, there are reports of knockoffs that suffer in quality and safety.

Crisco
Figure 1.1: Crisco

Shortening, like Crisco and Trex, was the original fisting lubricant from the previous century. These and other lipid-based lubes provide excellent base coats and can be used as stand-alone lubricants.

Elbow Grease
Figure 1.2: Elbow Grease

Several commercial hybrid lubes combine petroleum distillates, lipids and PEOs to create silky creams. The cost per ml is substantially higher than shortenings, PEOs, and gums.

FFäusten
Figure 1.3: FFäusten

FFäusten is a PEO that provides great coverage for punch and depth play. Other lubes in its class include K Lube and X Lube. All three have higher manufacturing standards than J Lube.

Xanthan Gum
Figure 1.4: Xanthan Gum

Xanthan gum, another powdered emulsifier, can be used alone or in a mix with other ingredients. Gums increase the viscosity and lubricity of lubrication and are common ingredients in food and cosmetics.

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.

Standard Practices

Standard Practices refer to common sense behaviors related to fisting activities.

Best Practices

With all the ins-and-outs of lubrication, it is easy to become overwhelmed—especially if you are new to fisting. During your first few sessions, your partner or mentor will prepare lube for you, and he will cover basic application and cleanup procedures.

However, within a short time, you are expected to master prep, application, cleanup and other best practices regarding lubrication.

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Application Ideologies

Most fisters adhere to two ideologies regarding lubricant application:

  • Reapply Lube When Requested | If a bottom feels there isn't enough lube and asks for more, reapply.
  • After honoring multiple, frequent requests, the top should investigate the reason for these requests.
  • If a bottom requests more lube even though his hole is overlubricated, it typically means one of two things: 1) his hole is tiring out, or 2) the top has poor fisting technique. The latter is more common than the former.
  • Over Lubricate Rather Than Under Lubricate | Lube should be applied liberally—any excess will be absorbed or expelled.
  • There are two common mistakes with new fisters: 1) applying the same amount of lube for fisting as is done for fucking, and 2) attempting to conserve lube.
  • A dollop of lube is insufficient, even with long-lasting lubes such as silicone or petroleum distillate-based lubes. A typical fister, two-hour session uses at least 250 to 500 ml (1 to 2 cups) of lube.
  • The most common fisting lubricants are cheap. Conserving lube for the next session is not advisable. Unused lube that was in the play area should be discarded after a session due to potential contamination.
Man With Lube On Gloves
Figure 3.1: Sufficient Lubrication

Sufficient application of lube is an early indicator of topping skills. If a top applies too little too late, then the bottom will not open up freely.

Failing to integrate these ideologies may result in serious harm to a bottom, and ostracization within the community if consistently non-compliant.

Safety Concerns

Preparing and maintaining possession over your lube prevents multiple issues that can put you at risk:

  • Lube Consistency | Mixing your own batch ensures you have the consistency you like or require. Lubricity is affected by viscosity—too little or too much viscosity may result in discomfort and/or injury.
  • Lube Contamination | Keeping your lube bottle with you prevents others from accidentally introducing STIs and infectious agents into your lube or lube bottle. When your lube is used in another's session, you inherit any microorganisms from that session.
  • Lube Ingredients | Certain additives, like clove oil, and certain base ingredients, like xanthan gum, may trigger allergic reactions. Use your own recipe that is safe for your hole rather than someone else's concoction.
  • Lube Maleficence | Harmful drugs could be present in lubes supplied by nefarious tops. The intention is that you lose control and no longer be able to consent to continuing play.
  • Lube Putrefaction | Exposure to cooking utensils, dispensers, and room air introduces bacteria and fungi that will colonize your lube and cause it to "spoil." Relying on another person to guarantee freshness is problematic.
Nefarious Witch
Poisoned Apple
Figure 3.2 [ A — B ]: Chain of Control

Preparing and maintaining your own lube ensures your lube is safe and free of microbial contaminants or substances introduced by nefarious individuals.

Shelf Life

The shelf life of lubricants varies based on several factors. These include exposure to contaminants, the nature of ingredients, and the presence of preservatives.

Contaminants

As a rule of thumb, any lube that was touched during play is contaminated. This includes any contact with your lube bottle. To prevent wasting lube, prepare only what is needed. If excess is prepared, store the extra in separate bottles away from the play area, preferably in the refrigerator or freezer.

Any lube prepared outside of a sterile laboratory will be exposed to contaminants, specifically fungi and bacteria. Lube prepared in humid climates will be colonized much faster than lube prepared in desert climates. So even if a lube has never been exposed to the play area, eventually it will need to be discarded.

Storage of Lube
Figure 3.3: Fresh Lube Bottles in Fridge

Contamination avoided by storing fresh bottles in fridge away from play spaces.

Nature of Ingredients

Very few lubes have extended shelf lives. Some are prone to microbial colonization, some are prone to spoilage, and others are prone to decay of active ingredients.

Single Use Lubricants

Lubes with these ingredients should be used only once and discarded* within 48 hours after mixing:

  • J Lube | This lube contains the dispersing agent dextrose, which is an excellent food source for many microorganisms.
  • Gums | Xanthan gum, guar gum, etc. create ideal growth mediums with adequate nutrition for microorganisms.

Some factors may extend the life of these lubes, including the introduction of preservatives, contamination management protocols, and refrigerated storage.

Lubes and Ingredients with Expiration Dates

Attention should be given to expiration dates for these lubes and lube ingredients. If expired or near the expiration date, they should be discarded:

  • Lipids | Crisco and coconut oil can go rancid with time. Keep no more than three months after mixing.
  • Gums | If kept in dry, cool places, gums such as xanthan and guar can last forever; however, most manufacturers include expiration dates on the packaging. These lubes begin losing lubricating qualities after that time. Fist Powder has xanthan as a primary ingredient and thus has an expiration date.

Lubes Containing Preservatives

Preservatives can extend the life of lube for a long period of time. Although colonization is unlikely, the active ingredients in these lubes degrade over time and should be discarded no later than three months after mixing.

Lubrication Course Index

The following lubrication courses are available from Fist Theory's Handball Academy:

Course Title Course ID Skill Level Executive Summary

Course Appendix

The following material may guide the development and deployment of this topic:

Objectives

Upon completing this course, the student will be able to:

  • List one common myth or misconception related to the application of lube.
  • Explain the concept of synchronized application.
  • Explain why excessive lube can be problematic within the human body.
  • Demonstrate application of a base coat and explain why base coating is important.
  • Demonstrate funneling lube into a hole.
  • Demonstrate applying liquid, cream, and solid lubes to a hole for shallow and depth play.
  • Explain the health risks of inserting frozen lube into the fist chute.
  • Recite one etiquette protocol and one standard practice related to lubrication application.

Supplemental Content

Blog Articles

  • Lubrication Gotchas

F2 Promotional Materials

  • Skills:
  • Protocols:
  • FWOTD:
    • Funnel
    • Base Coat
    • Fisting & Anal Margin
    • Synchronized Application

Outline (Proposed)

  • Modalities
  • Protocols
  • Etiquette
  • Apply Lube Frequently and Generously
  • Avoid Cross Contaminating Bottoms in Group Play
  • Standard Practices
  • Respect Your Partner's Lube Containment Policy
  • Procedures
  • Apply the base coat
  • Apply initial coat of lube (liquids)
  • Apply initial coat of lube (creams)
  • Apply initial coat of lube (solids)
  • Insert solid lubes into the hole
  • Funnel lube into partial gape
  • Apply Lube with Single Hand
  • Inject lube into upper fist chute
  • Decrease lube loss after injection
  • Administer lube cubes
  • Best Practices
  • General Methodologies
  • Base Coating
  • Synchronized Application - Timing application with popper hits!
  • Maintaining Lubricity (Rehydrating Lube)!
  • Practicing Standard Hygiene!
  • Preventing Cross Contamination
  • Gaining Lube Consent
  • Myths and Misconceptions
  • Myth: If I inject more lube, I'll be able to get deeper!
  • Myth: I wont perforate if using lots of lube!
  • Misconception: There's enough lube already!
  • Myth: Numbing lubes are beneficial.
  • Misconception: My extra special recipe will open you up better!
  • Advice and Tips from Advanced Fisters
  • Increasing Session Duration with Base Coating!
  • Decreasing Waste and Preventing Contamination in Large Groups!
  • Keeping the extra hand dry!
  • Preventing Injury from Lubrication Technology (and silicone straw)!

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