I’ll probably go with hickory. Pretty plain but wicked tough. Highly figured woods just don’t do well when cut that thin and I’m not interested in buying the equipment to stabilize.
I have some 3/8 and 1/4” thick phenolic plates. Very similar material to Micarta. I
might give it a try, though it stinks like the devil when cutting. I imagine it’s very hard in blades & cutters as well.
I used to turn pens but found it tedious. Plus I got tired of wooodworking in the cramped confines of the garage and sold off all my stationary tools except the bandsaw.
I enjoy spindle turning, just not pens.