Patience, practice, experience. I'll bet that 95% of the people here spent days and weeks getting their shines to be consistent. It is rare for a one day wonder to hit it, but it "has" happened. It doesn't usually come just by trying once, or twice, or three times.
Don't look at it with the mindset that - it didn't work for you. Look at it from the perspective that - it does for many many people, and then do what they did to get there - practice, practice, patience and build on the experiences. I am the slow one here - I did make my third pen with a great CA shiny finish. But it took me 1 1/2 years to do a consistent shine each time. Look at what you want to do, be determined to do it and practice.
There are quite a few ways to do a shine; each person has his own techniques, and each arrived at it by practice and work. Some do BLO first, some After CA, some without BLO altogether; some in multiple thin coats, some with a few thin coats; others with a few medium to thick coats; some with sealing with thin and build up with medium or thick. Some use paper towel to apply it, some use non-stick pads, a few use the small packs that pen parts come in and a few use rubber/latex gloves to apply the CA. I will say that you need fine fine sandpaper, micromesh or like sanding material. Go to it! It can be done!
PS, Any relation to "Rob Enderle"?
