I'm thinking about making a set of wood letterpress blocks, and need assistance with some decisions.

I'm thinking about making a set of wood letterpress blocks; I was hoping there might be someone here who can guide me as to the things I'm considering. The type of wood for a start, soft or hard- but I'm going to be filing this material so a harder wood will make the project take forever, but a soft wood might be naff with inks- I need to be able to clean the set once it's done.

The actual size and weight, and I suppose the typeface itself (if anyone has a special self designed one, I'd consider using it as a template!) are still undecided - I am literally just beginning to think about it. Who knows, we could work on it as a collective to get it done faster!

I want to make it fully by hand- I dont want to use sanders or engravers to rout out the grains. I also want to finish it by the end of 2011.