Poplar needs to be sealed like 4000 times because it turns into paste when it gets wet. I made mine out of red cedar and cypress, I saw no discernable difference in their action. I think clear pine would be a great wood for these.
As for miss-drilling, how do you drill your thru-holes? I'm sure we can help you get that right. As for tail-loop, I'll try and describe how I do and when my wife gets home I'll have her take some pics...
First, gasp a phillips head screw driver in your vise point facing up, (if you don't have a vise, drill a hole in your work bench and put a piece of round steel in the hole... an old drill bit would work
Once the wire has been threaded through the plug bend it up slightly at a 45 degree angle, then using needle-nose pliers or if you have them, round wire bending pliers, grasp the wire as close to the tail grommet as possible and wrap the tag end of the wire around the pliers. Now squeeze the loop flat with your pliers so that both ends of the loop are touching. Now grab the plug by the body and loop the wire around the screwdriver and grab the tag end of the wire with a pair of vise grips. Wrap the wire around itself in tight coils, all the time pulling the tag end out and away from the center to ensure maximum tightness. Now just trim off the excess wire and you're good to go.
Hope that makes sense!
