Thanks for the tips....I bought some different solder.  its a little thicker and it is the 63/37.  I seems to melt a lot easier and i Solder doesnt seem to melt up so fast!   i solder a input jack and it looked great. it was shiny and even and all that stuff.   but then i tried to re-solder the ground wire to the trem claw.  i just can't seem to get it.  i think that it is because  the plate is so thick. ...

Very good advice.  i hope to avoid any hazardous situations by learning from more experienced  individuals...
   I am very sorry to hear about your friend.

Thanks for all of the advice guys.  I went out and bought a soldering iron, wire strippers/cutters, some 60/40 rosin solder (though i hear that 63/37 is better?), found other handy tools laying around. 
I practiced some soldering just for fun.  i used some old circuit boards.  it seemed pretty easy.  then i tried to solder two wires together and found it very difficult.  i also tried soldering a ground wire to a trem claw and found that very hard as well...Basically, the solder seemed very gloppy, and it just sort of mushed around....(does that make any sense?)  do i need to get the parts hotter?   


Also, i plan on buying an amp kit this summer...i have to save up because i have a guitar project i need to finish first.


I figured in the mean time, maybe i could practice on my own tube amp, I need some new tubes anyways...but, my research has left me terrified!!!  what is the most correct method of draining the capacitors.   I saw the tool from webervst.com, should i just buy that?  the more i research this one, the more confused i get...

                                                                   Thank you very much,
                                                                                    Timeforheroes

I am also very interested in building and repairing tube amps.  i just bought my first tube amp (ac30!!!!!)  and i cant believe the difference in feel, dynamics, and SOUND!   amazing. 
i want to build a ceriatone amp very badly.  i e-mailed nik and he said that the kits don't come with instructions....where and how do i find out how to build these?  do i just look at the schematic?  if that is the case, then i am certain that building an amp would be out of my league until i learn more....very sad
what is the easiest to build?   i dont mind a small project...

hello ceriatoners!
         I recently found out about ceriatone....i think that it is a great idea!   absolutely fantastic.  I am a DIY kind of guy....so, naturally, i would like to build an amp.   
         did any of you build your ceriatone amps?   can you please describe what i would need to do to get this project started...for instance, i dont know if i should buy a complete kit, a board  etc....
        also, what mechanical skills and tools do i need to successfully assemble one of these?
       

I hope i dont sound to stupid...i appreciate the help....THANK YOU in advance