Mind Upon Mind: Making Tenons Pop

In a recent installment of Lost Art Press's 'Mind Upon Mind' series, woodworker Nick Stanchenko shares a technique for enhancing the appearance of tenons using cyanoacrylate (CA) glue. The series, inspired by a 1937 'Chips from the Chisel' column by Charles H. Hayward, invites readers to submit their own improvements to projects from Lost Art Press books. Stanchenko discovered that while CA glue is commonly used to fill small holes, it also darkens end grain significantly, creating a striking contrast that he now embraces. He recommends applying a thin, even layer of CA glue across the tenon to avoid streaks, and notes that it can be used to fill gaps around the tenon, with excess scraped away later. However, he cautions against using this technique on deeply scooped seats where exposed end grain around leg mortises could be stained. The effect is hard to undo, so he advises trying it on less important pieces first. The article includes photos comparing tenons with and without the CA glue treatment, and references chairs made from European beech finished with eight coats of shellac. Stanchenko's tip was submitted via email to Kara Gebhart Uhl, the editor, and is part of an ongoing series that encourages woodworkers to share their innovations.