My recent foray into the realm of CA finishes:
As suggested by TallTim, went to Hobby Lobby and picked up one sheet of craft foam to try it.
Sanded my blank down to a perfect shape, working up the grits to 600. With my lathe turning at its slowest speed (500 rpm) held a one-inch square of foam under the blank, wearing a nitrile glove on that hand. Using thin CA, I very quickly got the foam glued to the blank.
Whoever said CA doesn't stick to nitrile gloves can please come to my house and gently remove the pieces of glove glued to my hand.
Removed the offending foam from the blank using a combination of sledge hammer, cold chisel and jackhammer. Sanded the finish off completely while using words my mother didn't even know, much less teach.
Back to Plan A. Still using thin CA, applied same to the foam, then quickly spread it over the blank. No foam glued to the blank but ended up with diagonal swirls in the finish. Not exactly artistic. Sanded the finish off completely once again. By this time the blank was looking like it was melted and put back together, but still passable.
Plan B: decided thin CA was not going to work so I tried medium CA. Much better but more swirls. Put 3 more coats on it, then sanded with micro mesh and voila! the swirls disappeared.
I now have a pen that looks like a proctologist's scope but at least it has a very nice finish on it. Maybe I can sell it on the "unique pen" market.
Thanks to everyone for suggestions and help. I think I'm getting there. It's a steep learning curve but not impossible. Every "goof" is a learning experience.