I just use plain old straight grain Ash, make the handle so that it's 5 times longer than you expect to ever hang the tool over the tool rest, I've never been brave enough to stick my tool much over 3 to 4 inches, and I have an 18 inch handle on it. Also turn the handle so you can almost touch the palm of your hand with your finger tips, a small diameter works well near the rear of the handle, there is no offer for the tool to twist since it's square, and sitting on the tool rest. I stalled a friends Powermatic with a woodchuck and truly wasn't over powered by the torque of the lathe. but I only had about 2-1/2 maybe 3 inches into some dry hard Maple.