Nice little Soldering Guide

[undamned]

Here: http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/docs/solder.pdf

I didn't even know about the trick w/ the alligator clip on transistors!
-ud

[Tiido Priimägi]

Additional flux is always good to have... the flux in the solder is not enough in many cases (especially when you deal with wires).

[undamned]

If you are using rosin-core, you need to apply the solder dirrectly to the wire/joint/pin as you are heating it.  It cleans the parts as you are applying it.  If you do not use this method you will have solder that is hot but oxidizes and gets all clumpy and hard to work w/.  I personally prefer doing wire work w/ rosin-core and delicate surface mount stuff w/ flux-core + liquid flux.  You have to wash your work after using liquid flux, but the results are dreamy compared to anything else.  Also, lead free solder is teh suxors.
-ud