Essential Tools for Relacing Your Baseball Glove
Having the right tools makes all the difference between a frustrating relacing experience and a smooth, professional job. At GOLOMB, John Golomb, The Original Glove Doctor, has restored over 70,000 baseball gloves in nearly 40 years. We know that quality tools are just as important as quality laces. Whether you're tackling your first relace or you're a seasoned restorer, understanding your tools and how to use them properly will help you achieve the best results.
Wood Handle Pull Needle
The wood handle pull needle is a classic, time-tested tool that's been used by professional glove makers for decades. Our GOLOMB Wood Handle Pull Needle features English honed steel and a solid oak handle - it's so well made, we guarantee it for a lifetime.
How to use it: Unlike a lockin needle, which holds the lace in place while you push it forward through the glove, a pull needle works in reverse. You first push the empty needle through the glove from the side where you want the lace to come out. When the eye of the needle appears on the opposite side—where you want the lace to go in—you thread the lace through the eye and pull the needle back through. This lets you set the path before the lace moves, making it easier to work through single holes, tight tracks, or hidden tunnels, and giving you more leverage by pulling the lace through instead of forcing it forward.
Pro tip: The substantial wood handle gives you excellent leverage when pulling through resistant leather, and the tool won't bend or break like cheaper alternatives.
Large Lace Lockin’ Needle (5")
The Large Lace Lockin’ Needle is a commonly used tool in glove relacing, designed for threading leather lace through multiple holes without rethreading each time. These solid brass needles have a threaded opening at one end that grips the lace securely while you work.
How to use it:
Cut the end of the lace at a sharp angle to create a clean point. Insert the lace into the threaded opening of the needle and twist clockwise while pushing until the lace is firmly seated in the threads. Once attached, push the flat, blunt end of the needle through the glove hole from the back side, pull it through, and continue on to the next hole. The lace remains secured in the needle through multiple holes, allowing for continuous threading.
Pro tip:
The flat nose helps the needle pass cleanly through glove holes without snagging, and the threaded grip keeps the lace from slipping out during longer runs.
Small Lace Lockin Needle (2.25")
The Small Lace Lockin Needle works exactly like the larger needle but in a more compact size, perfect for tight spaces where the 5" needle won't fit, especially when its an older glove with grommets.
How to use it: Same principle as the large locking needle - angle cut, screw in clockwise, and thread through. The shorter length gives you better maneuverability in confined spaces.
Pro tip: Keep both sizes handy. Start sections with the large needle, then switch to the small when you hit tight spots—especially on older gloves with grommets in the heel holes.
Needle Nose Pliers
A good pair of Needle Nose Pliers is indispensable for glove relacing. Think of them as an extension of your hand—giving you extra reach, grip, and control where your fingers can’t quite do the job on their own.
When to use them:
Removing old, stubborn laces from holes
Gripping and pulling laces in extremely tight spots
Prying under laces when you need to access what's beneath
Providing extra pulling power when leather is resistant
Cutting laces (if your pliers have built-in wire cutters)
How to use them: When removing old laces, grip the lace end with the pliers and pull steadily away from your body (never toward your face or body - if the lace suddenly releases, you could injure yourself). For threading, use the pliers to grab the needle or lace tip on the other side of a hole and pull through with steady pressure.
Pro tip: Our GOLOMB Needle Nose Pliers has a built-in wire cutter near the joint. This dual functionality means one less tool to keep track of.
Other Essential Supplies
Beyond needles and pliers, a few additional items complete your toolkit:
Scissors or leather shears - For trimming excess lace after tying knots
Leather awl - For repairing or enlarging stretched lace holes (especially useful on vintage gloves)
Glove Leather Shampoo and Conditioner - To clean and soften both the glove leather
Saftey Reminders:
Relacing tools are sharp and require caution:
Always pull laces and needles away from your face and body
Keep tools out of reach of children
Work in good lighting to see what you're doing
Be patient - forcing tools can damage both the tool and your glove
Building Your Kit
If you’re just getting started, the easiest way to cover all the tools discussed here is with a single setup.
Our Complete Baseball Relace Kit includes the essential needles, pliers, laces, and conditioner needed to complete a full glove relace from start to finish.
