Been doin' that for 20+ years now. Nothin' magic about a 'hawk handle. Use a straight grained hardwood like oak, hickory, ash or maple. If the head has a tapered hole, and it most likely does, then the top of the handle has to be shaped to match the hole so it does not come all the way through the head. (That is what keeps them together) As far as balance, there are many "secret" methods but what works very well for me is: place your elbow on a table with your forearm sticking up, make a fist, and the length from the table top to your knuckles should be the length of your handle.