RIP Radio Shack. I used to like that place. I could always find an knowledgeable employee (back before the days where you could look up info online, I would often be clueless when it came to all the adapters, etc. I needed) and could get the unique items like the Hobby Vise, etc.
Thank you. This video really helped me while making a customized RS232 cable with casing on it. I have never worked with the casing assembly before. It helped me alot.
I don’t thinking melting the plastic below each cup is a sign of a good soldering job. Better to hold the solder tip near the top of the cup and feed solder in below the iron. Once the solder melts, drag both iron and solder up off the top of the cup. This will fill the cup nicely and not melt the plastic around the cup.
Ooh boy... look, if you want to learn how to actually solder connectors, PACE Worldwide has training videos from 40 years ago that will tell you how the actual pros do it. But FFS ditch that gas iron, it's way to hot, in case the *melting connector* wasn't a clear-enough indicator.
Im no pro but holy crap this were worse than my first time soldering. Also you should not be melting the connector at the base. Also that type of iron is not meant for what you are doing.