Brass, go to a Hobby Lobby or someplace like it and pick up a modeling tool, they can be had pretty cheap. Screw a bunch of tools, I can count on one hand the tools I use on 90% of my projects. Also get some good quality packing tape and put that on the back of your projects to be tooled, works great!
One more thing, check with places that do countertops or headstones.Sometimes you can score some marble or granite,cheap.I obtained a piece of granite{18"x12"x11/2"} from a place that salvages stuff from old buildings for $20.00.