Favorite woods, stains, and finishes?

Sorry, posted this the wrong place so re-posting it here...

I'm gonna try making some frames, footboards, etc. I see a lot of great work on the site and wondered if there's a favorite type of wood, stain, and finish people use that have stood the test of time. Or... is there simply some stuff to stay away from at all costs. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

I like untreated pine, carved with a router, torched with a gas flame, wire brush. Then finishing with a dark black stain (Japan Black).

Hey thanks leevigraham! Exactly what I wanted to know. On your two tone pieces, did you stain some spots and not others or was that something with the burning?

[ Edited by spy-tiki on 2026-05-27 15:22:46 ]

The lighter colour is just the torched timber.