Solderng iron help

[Hetty]

I'm one of those women who is really bad with anything to do with tools.

I bought a soldering iron to put holes in a click clack for my carpet (getting her tomorrow ) and there's plastic going everywhere, all over the lid of the click clack and the soldering iron itself, and partly sealing up the holes.. so, does anyone have any tips they could give me for using a soldering iron?

Oh, and how many holes (roughly) will I need?

[Australis]

What kind of tip is on the s/iron?

[junglepython2]

How long are you leaving it on the plastic?

[Hetty]

Pen tip.

Until the hole is done, how long should I leave it?

[MoreliaMatt]

have a damp sponge handy to wipe off the excess off the tip once you have pierced through!
if you cant manage a clean hole then get a small round file to clean them up!

[Hetty]

Okay, sounds good I'll give it another go then

Thanks xD

[AnteUp]

Don't take it too slow either. The faster you get the soldering iron out and wipe off the excess the easier it will be.

[RodSydAus]

If the soldering iron doesnt come good, try knocking a good sized nail through a small piece of wood so most of it sticks out the other side. You can then heat the nail using a flame (gas oven or paint stripper gun if you got one maybe or even fire up the bbq) and, holding it by the piece of wood, push the red hot nail through the plastic. You should be able to get more heat this way so it should go through easily. My soldering iron doesnt get very hot at all, just enough to melt solder and burn skin.

[munkee]

I drill holes through containers, I am careful about snapping the plastic but it works fine.

[Hetty]

I've done it now, I made some of the holes a little too big but shouldn't be anywhere near big enough to let a carpet out.

Have a headache from the fumes though

[MaDDoG]

Dont breathe the fumes in.. Plastic is poisonous and can make you sick. (just to be on the safe side)

[Hetty]

Yeah, well I didn't realise I was breathing them in at the time

The smoke was going in the opposite direction.

[GSXR_Boy]

Wait till you get the hot plastic stuck to your skin, always a fun experience!!
Usually you let out one of those high pitched squeals only the local dogs here!! (like when you kick the end of the bed!!).

[Hetty]

I was worried about burning myself the whole time :/

My head hurts

[MaDDoG]

Do it in a open area next time if you wernt also if ya headhurts, it wont hurt to get some fresh air for abit, fumes usualty give you a sore head haha.