I am a very new beginner and have only made about 4 things with my scroll saw. It's only been wooden signs with names on them. I have tried different types of wood from plywood to MDF board. The MDF board seems to have worked the best, but I'm having a hard time finding thinner pieces. I'm not really ready to go to more expensive wood yet, because I don't want to make a mistake and have it end up being firewood. So i guess my question is, what is a good type of wood to use for a beginner that won't chip when cutting?