Mike Stafford
I have wooden handles into which I have fitted inserts made from aluminum with set screws that will hold tools with 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" and 5/8" shafts. I like the feel of wooden handles and I like the shape that I turned as it fits my hand.

I have chosen different woods for different tool functions. My spindle gouge handles are turned from birdseye or curly maple. My detail gouges are turned from bloodwood and chakte kok. Larger tools are turned from heavier and more dense woods such as cocobolo and verawood. This allows me to quickly recognize the tool that I need as I just grab the correct handle.

When I travel most of the tools can be reversed and inserted into the handle to protect the cutting edge and also protect me from the cutting edge. Of course my spindle roughing gouge cannot be reversed nor can many of my Hunter tools but I still like for them to have handles that allow for me to vary the length that the tool projects out of the handle. I drill a hole slightly larger in diameter than the tool shaft into the wood much deeper than is needed to accommodate the aluminum insert as this allows me to vary how far I project the tool out of the handle. Since I turn mostly small objects I don't need long and strong handles and I seldom reach more than a couple of inches over the tool rest.

When a favorite tool wears out I can replace it and continue to use a favorite handle.