i use r cedar for poppers, why use basswood, is it better, heavier,?
same with needles, i use cedar, and weight it heavier if i want it to sink, should i use a diff wood bein that needles have a slender profile,and cedar is soft and i guess it could split easier , never had a problem with mine but if i really usin the wrong, i just wood like to know, basswood is it harder to turn, being denser

Maple is probably the most commonly used wood for needles, but if you find basswood dense then you'll have trouble with maple. Sharp tools are neccessary to work it. Two advantages. It is stronger in a narrow plug, particularly if drilled out for a through wire, swivel, and weight, and it requires less lead which means the mass of the plug is more uniformly distributed, helping to liven up the action a little.

thanks bro!