How to Use California Glue As a Finish

California glue, also known as CA (cyanoacrylate) glue, is unusual in its ability to be used as a finish as well as a glue product. CA glue provides a lasting, hard, inexpensive and stable finish for many woodworking projects. It can be tricky to use correctly, as the product is messy and sticky, but CA glue has many benefits when applied in the right way. Practice and patience are key elements to learning and using CA glue as a wood finish.

CA glue
Latex gloves
Sandpaper
Spray lacquer (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Put on latex gloves. Apply a few drops of CA glue to the surface of the wood.
- 2
  Spread the glue on the surface of the wood with your glove-covered fingertips. Do several inches of application area at a time. Spread as quickly and smoothly as possible and stop spreading once the glue becomes tacky to the touch.
- 3
  Allow time for the glue to completely dry on the wood naturally for best results. This takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
- 4
  Sand the wood with low-grit sandpaper once it has dried. Make sure that the room you are working in is well lit so that you can see any dimpled surfaces from the CA glue. Sand the wood until it appears smooth.
- 5
  Apply another coat of CA glue and repeat the sanding process. You can apply up to two more coats in this manner. Otherwise, spray one or two coats of spray lacquer and allow to dry.

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