I also have another question about CA finishes. What is the best way to apply a CA finish or something similar to undulating turnings? By "undulating" I mean highly vallyed or piked. Elevation or figure, in the sculpting not in the wood itself.
Another way to do this, and a few do but most don't - is to use the small parts bags that the pen comes in. Place a few drops of medium (or thin) on the bag with your finger in it, (with the lathe ON of course) and rub this on the spinning blank. Fairly smooth application. PArts bags or rubber gloves, the CA goes on smoother but it does not cure as quickly as it does with using paper towel.
Most people achieve this with paper towel. The difference between you with the valleys or undulating and them with smooth application is simply experience. Experience with how much CA, watching closely and smoothing with a delicate touch and motion.
Try to change the focus from "completing a pen" to "mastering the finish". Once the mastering of the finish, or at least getting a good "feel" for applying, the pen making quality will take a great step up.
Quite a few people here took some plain old pine or other common wood and just practiced with a skew or scraper and learned that; then focused on achieving a consistent finish and learned the basics of that. It wasn't easy for some but for others it was. The key was focusing on learning the steps, not getting through with a pen. When the steps are learned with the experience, the finished pen with be there!
