Plug in and preheat your soldering iron according to the solder you're using:

Leaded solder: 315–350°C (600–660°F)

Lead-free solder: 370–400°C (700–750°F)

The soldering iron tip is extremely hot. Avoid touching it directly and keep flammable materials away. Always solder in a well-ventilated area or with a fume extractor running.

Dip the exposed wire ends into flux to help the solder bond better.

Apply a small amount of soldering wire onto the tip of the iron to "tin" it, which helps with heat transfer.

If you notice smoke coming from the flux, this is normal and helps clean the metal surface.