A "primer" on soldering...

Great advice everyone.  My first attempt was an emergency solder job.  A tonearm clip broke off and I had no choice but to repair it. 

It was a Hadcock TA and the leads were about as thin as hair - I got er done but it won't win any awards for beauty!  I have since gotten better with practice.

Thanks for the links and all of the posts so far.

My first experience with tonearm wire.... I was unaware about the best way mate the leads on a RCA jack to the 33ga tonearm wire. I later learned to heat the thick piece first to add solder, then heat the existing solder to add the tonearm wire. (This is correct, right?) The only way I could get it to work.

Do NOT file, scrape, pry, or otherwise forcibly molest the tip of your iron! You will destroy it. Decent tips aren't copper.