Everyone has their own way of doing it. Here are my steps and I don’t use BLO. Not sure why that was ever recommended in the first place. You are essentially adding oil/moisture and then trying to cover it with CA which clouds up with said moisture. Even oily wood like cocobolo you should wipe down it down a couple of times with denatured alcohol or the oil is going to cause the CA to lift or Become cloudy.
1. Sand blank to 320, if a dark wood like walnut or ebony I’ll go up higher since the chances of seeing scratches imo are higher
2. Apply 1-2 coats of thin CA to essentially seal the wood. I let these coats dry naturally and I use craft foam to apply it. I find that craft foam doesnt react to CA as bad as paper towels (you know when the towel smokes and burns your eyeballs).
3. I then apply 3-10 coats of medium CA depending on how much I have to build back up to the pen component diameter. I use calipers your measure and have a cheat sheet for each pen I make with the diameters on them. I use bushings to get me close but don’t rely on them. I also use craft foam. I put a dab or two on the foam and then apply since this lets me control how much I want on it. Remember too much CA and it will “bloom” on you causing either white dots or cloudiness. I also do a small spritz of activator between coats. When I spray I am about a foot away. Activator will also cause it to bloom if you use to much.
5. I then seal the ends of the blanks with thin so water for sanding doesn’t not get between the CA and blank. Resquare lightly with my sanding jig. Very lightly.
6. Wet sand up to 1500 with wet/dry paper. Much cheaper than micro mesh pads. I always wait at least 24 hours for the CA to gas off.
7. Polish up with mcguires plastix
8. Sand the inside tube on most kits so CA doesn’t crack when I push them together.
That’s my process which is successful for me. Your mileage may vary. Remember CA Brand plays a big part of it as well. Make sure it’s fresh and ask
Around what people are using. I would stay away from stick fast as it tends to shatter over time. Try flexible ones which will move with the wood.
Good luck!!!