Thread: Using CA/ Superglue as a pen finish?

Ive found the CA method with the paper towel to be outstanding.

It wasnt much of a learning curve. With the Bob Smith Industries CA, or the Hafele, along with the Hafele Aktivator for both, I found the process very quick indeed.

Two or so coats with thin to seal it all up, then about 5 with thick, a quick sanding regime and its done.


I wrote the exact process up here once -->> ca glue as a high finish on pens


edit: Ive seen a lot of different ways. I regard mine as close to perfect, fast and efficient as possible. Others will disagree BUT, I did get REALLY obsessed with pens for ages. I gave away hundreds. It was a lunacy


I was also nuts enough to actually record the number of pens made with a bottle of CA and a can of Aktivator. It was extremely high.... let me see if I can find that too...

I have experienced various material smoking and stinking with use not all materials react the same as stated.

Ironwood, yes I still use it without any problems. What I have is branded Creatology ($14 a pack at Spotlight) and is a very dense foam about 2mm thick with a paper backing (so only use one side! ) Sheets are 100x150mm with 65 sheets in a pack - makes about 300 strips each 20x150mm and one strip does around 6 coats (just use a small section, then cut it off). Some are on their way to Oldhilly, so will be interested to hear how he finds it.

Cheers, Gary

Originally Posted by mature one

I have experienced various material smoking and stinking with use not all materials react the same as stated.

Well, it seems like there is a problem and I wasn't imagining it. The solution seems to be trying certain combinations that others have found successful and hope for the best.
Thank you, one and all, for the advice.

WARNING: Cyanoacrylate fumes can cause severe airway and lung irritation. The fumes react with the moisture in the airway and solidify instantly. Significant exposure can result in a peculiar cough that takes about a week to dissipate (don't ask me how I know this).

I successfully used it for pens years ago, using cotton fabric to apply. I applied it in small amounts and built up the thickness in several coats. It polished up nicely and yields a very hard, durable finish.

My problem occurred when I tried to use it for a small bowl, you can guess the rest - just too much in the air.

I wonder about using CA as a finish on something large like a bowl. Using it on pens, where there is minimal movement of the timber due to humidity, seems quite reasonable but for something larger where the natural movement of the timber would be greater, CA seems to be brittle whereas other finishes seem to have a bit of "give" in them. Or am I wrong? Is CA flexible enough to withstand movement caused by variations in humidity? And then there are the fumes........Oh, those fumes!

Originally Posted by Old Hilly

And then there are the fumes........Oh, those fumes!

I keep saying it, use the stuff that doesn’t give off the fumes.

Odorless CA | Super-Gold Cyanoacrylate

Originally Posted by Ironwood

I keep saying it, use the stuff that doesn’t give off the fumes.

Odorless CA | Super-Gold Cyanoacrylate

Not to be a pain, is there stills risk, even if we can’t smell the fumes?.

Cheers Matt.

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Not to be a pain, is there stills risk, even if we can’t smell the fumes?.

Cheers Matt.

The blurb says there are "no fumes" ... hence, I'd imagine, the basis of being "Odourless". No fumes = no odour.

Be interesting the read the MSDS.


I might add, in my usage experience, the BSI and Hafele glues were pretty good to start with. It was only the cheaper bulk modelling CA glues that stank. I gave these up almost instantly as something that smells like that has no place near my lungs and sinuses.

The BSI/Hafele, really thinking back on it did not cause me any trouble. I do remember using the DE or leaving the door open to vent though.... but this may have been from my (actually) listening to the warnings of those on this site (yeah!) rather than an actual need. A bit odd that I don't specifically remember whether it caused irritation - but it mustn't have as I made pens predominantly in the winter ... and I kept the little studio closed up super tight (cold here!!!!).

So I looked at the Hafele Australia website and found their CA adhesive. They make an activator in what looks like a spray can and a "Dual Component" CA adhesive Rapid adhesive (superglue), HAFELE dual component - in the Hafele Australia Shop
with no other details about how the stuff works or is applied. Interesting but not all that helpful, at least to me.
Perhaps BSI will tell me more when I get that far.

The Aktivator is just a CA "kicker".

It is sold in bulk as its used for kitchen cabinetry.

Hafele, when one is a member, has sheets explaining its use. One suggestion is when gluing timbers/laminates to other things... squiggle the CA on one surface, spray the kicker on the other, press together and Presto! Instantly and permanently attached. Obviously there is the need to get it exactly right first go!

Others suggestions are as place-holder, gap-filling, test-sticking just using dots of the stuff, bodging things together and even for cornice work. I've seen trimmers use it in the manner above too (for end joining and holding to the wall prior to pinning).

I got the impression that the minimum order would be a box full but they would prefer a pallet load. It was the "dual component" concept that intrigued me, it looks like 2 similar sized bottles, like parts A&B with epoxy, but they had Activator as well. Darn clever, these Germans, or Swiss, or wherever they come from.
"Wurth" had some interesting stuff too but they seemed to be trade-centered as well.

I use an air con through fan shaped like a beer keg it is impervious to fumes etc and exits to atmosphere,takes the very fine dust and cA fumes out. Also a dust ex under the pen rest. works for me.

Peter/