3 thangs to remimber when soldering ,one tin the tip frequently second keep the tip clean by wiping it with a clean wet sponage and third heat the component leads with the solding iron and apply the solder to the heated component leads as well, this prevents a cold solder joint in the future ,in regarts to buying a soldering iron unless you solder alot any $15 iron at say Radio shack type place will do just fine.
