Shafts, flutes, grinds, edges and steels of the 'business end' of turning tools are a never ending topic for discussions on rcw. This rarely leads to arguments that threaten the thin veneer of civility most here try to keep glued on, but opinions are argued with more heat than those about the other end; the handles. Of the two ends, I reckon the handles play a much lesser role in our turning, maybe even less than rest height and shape, but they probably influence our turning much more than just being comfortable.
I've tried padded iron pipe, shot filled aluminum tubing, inserted lead weights, crooked limbs, checkered oval or octagonal hickory. I've used handles for removable shafts held with set screws or hose clamps. I've finally come to smooth, round hardwood cylinders with the same diameter end to end; no ferrules, finish, coves, beads tapers or checking and no sharp or bulbous ends. I like a fixed wooden handle with a color id. for each tool. Yep, I have far too many tools. Most of us do. The rest soon will.
A cylinder suits me, but what about its diameter and length? I have often gone overboard as a reaction to the ridiculous handles that came with the tools by exchanging excessive 'long & thick' for inadequate 'short & thin'. To be fair, some manufacturers have begun to offer robust handles as standard, even realizing that micro tools aren't held in micro hands. I wonder if the OEM handles were designed to please tradition, engineers, the accounting office or the shipping dept, certainly not to please me ...but then some of mine don't either.
There are some professional turners so busy that turning handles isn't cost effective. Also many of you prefer and can afford and justify buying the elegant speciality ones. Excluding these types, do you use the tool's original handle? If you don't, what did you change to? Why?
Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter