I don't understand how the tube would drive you crazy. With one hand I squeeze a line of glue down the blank. With the other hand, I hold a paper towel and quickly go back and forth for a few seconds. I get a very smooth finish. I have had problems with larger bottles going bad before I've used it all.
Not trying to be too snarky, but I spend over a thousand dollars with vendors on this site each year. That's not really an issue. The poster was asking about what CA glue to use and I was simply giving something to think about.
Richard, I wasn't trying to be snarky either.. I was giving an alternative view for him, you and others. The poster didn't ask which to use, he asked about best cost. I tend to use 2oz bottles because the are the best mix of cost vs waste for me (smaller and they cost more, larger and like you said they go bad before I can use them). At local prices I pay a little under $8 for a 2oz bottle. (which is a bit higher than Monty+shipping for me so I avoid that unless I have to) To come out ahead of the "little tube" price I only need to make 32 pens from that. Anything more and I've come out ahead.
As for how it would drive me crazy - thats just ME. I am NOT known for a neat shop. My bottles of CA are few enough and big enough to not lose them. To have to have a little tube for each pen, I'd spend more time looking for tubes than using them. Plus having something nearby to safely dispose of them.
The other thing to think about is if you want the different speeds of CA. I use a combination of Fast and Med for finishing and Slow for gluing tubes.
. hope the MIL is doing well... if LOML gets better tonight, we leave for our Thanksgiving Vac tomorrow... if not we're staying in town too... give our best to the MIL....