I'll have to try the CA on the insides smoothed with Marty's silicon spatula-sounds like a great idea. I'm currently taking a break from wood with an easy Keen Kutter in acrylic, but will try the CA on wood or horn next go round.
As for the stabilizing, I don't currently have anything to put in it really. I have a huge cherry burl still in log form that is probably years from being useable. I probably need to call my woodworker friend for some cutoffs; he uses a lot of burls and spalted stuff. I know that I also want to dye whatever I stabilize-I love some of the highly-figured and colored stabilized blanks. Let me get back to you on that.