Hi Larry, I use whatever wood I have to hand, as I usually have lots of off cuts from other wood construction projects.
I am a school governor and my wife is a school teacher and I am always being asked to make stuff for school.
The bike is 3/4", guitarist 1/8", country cool is 3/8". I also use mdf 1/4" to 3/4" although it is far from my favourite wood.
Would be delighted for you to try some of the patterns.
Like the big idea