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I remember seeing posts that describe the technique to apply cyano (super glue) as a wood finish.  A few questions for anyone that does it:

• How do you apply it?
• If you're applying to turning stock, do you let it heat up, or do you want to avoid heat buildup?
• How do you avoid an uneven finish?
• Any special precautions, other than being careful to not glue your fingers together or to the wood?  (Greg Kuntz)

Maybe this will help.  (Joe Arguello)

I have just started making my own inserts but haven't tried super glue only because I don't quite know how to apply it to the mortise area and get a good result.  Applying on the lathe probably isn't the right answer.  Anyone out there use CA on mortised seats?  (Rick Hodges)

I apply it to turning stock, let it set. Turn the blank till I come to soft wood and apply again. When down to size I apply it as a finish while turning. I have some spalted Maple that is like a sponge, It takes quite a bit to fill that. On that type of wood, it takes several applications.  (Tony Spezio)

I remember seeing posts that describe the technique to apply cyano (superglue) as a wood finish.  A few questions for anyone that does it:

How do you apply it?

Greg ... they've pointed you to my post sharing how I do it.  Let me be the first to say that there are as many ways to apply CA as there are brands of CA.

This works for me.  I've done a few hundred (pens and reel seats) this way and pretty much like the results.

I did a fast job here and left out some steps that I'll try to update.

If you're applying to turning stock, do you let it heat up, or do you want to avoid heat buildup?

NO HEAT! Heat (and water) is what cures CA and if you get the CA starting to cure you'll have the paper towel start sticking to the surface and then you'll have to sand back down and start again.

I sand to 400 or 600 grit depending on the wood.  Clean with some alcohol to get all the dust off the wood.

Then the first thing is to fold a sheet of the Paper Towel until it is about 2" - 3" then I tear off a piece and fold that in half again.

With the lathe on SLOW speed (no idea of the rpm but if you are slinging CA it's too fast)

Put 4-5 drops on the folded paper towel and quickly wipe across the surface back and forth 1 - 2 times and pull he paper towel off quickly.

If you don't have accelerator just let the blank turn for 60 seconds or so and it will dry so you can apply coats 2 - 6 or how many you like.

How do you avoid an uneven finish?

I'm going to recommend that you use THIN CA to possibly avoid this until you are comfortable doing this.  Don't apply too big of a puddle of CA.  4 -5 drops is plenty.  We're not trying to build a plastic thick blank but put a protective finish.

You probably will get wrinkles like potato chips and if you do just let it sit for a couple minutes and take a small stick and wrap some 320 sand paper around it and sand the ridges off.  Start applying your CA again.

Any special precautions, other than being careful to not glue your fingers together or to the wood?

Yes ... I confess.  Many times I just use my finger tip and use it to apply the CA to the finish.  Smear it back and forth quickly and lift my finger in the air for 60 seconds or so (I won't tell you how I learned NOT to touch or pick up anything when the finger is wet with CA).  When the CA is dry, apply more CA and lift the finger again.  When I'm finished I peel it off.  The only one who protests at this method is SWMBO but I don't let a little thing like that deter me.

Otherwise, latex gloves or the Nitrile Gloves from Harbor Freight are excellent.

A mask or respirator of some sort or work in an open area with good cross ventilation.

I think when I first told Tony about this way he had some kind of allergic reaction to the smell/odors of CA and I sent him some Odorless CA to try and can't remember how that worked for him.

Glasses and or a face shield to protect your eyes because you will sling the CA.  (Ron Hossack)

This is how I have done it works best if the reel seat is round -  NO mortise.  Makes for a really nice finish.  There are some other videos if you dig around on YouTube pen blank finishing.  (Rick Barbato)

As the insert is turning on your lathe, and you are rapidly rubbing the CA on in a horizontal direction; therefore, the mortise should not be a problem.  (Frank Schlicht)

Greg, and others working with CA who fear gluing your fingers to something, this concern is apparently unwarranted. Yes, you CAN glue objects to your fingers or vice versa, but the remedy is apparently very simple. Some years ago, one of the major woodworkers on his Saturday TV show addressed this issue. He intentionally glued his thumb and index finger together, and demonstrated that they were, in fact, glued together by trying to pull a standard wood pencil through the bond. NO GO! He then took the same pencil and had an assistant apply Vaseline to the pencil, which he proceeded to pull between the tips of his fingers with very little effort, just a quick "snap", and the bond was broken. I have never had the need to test the technique, so cannot say from personal experience whether or not it works, but one never knows when the tip might come in handy. The closest I have come to date was several years ago, and prior to seeing the tip, when a friend super-glued a pair of pliers to his hand! Oh, for pictures of THAT!  (Frank Schlicht)