3) Does *anyone* make DIN plugs which don't melt if
you bring a soldering
iron within 5ft of them?
4) Where's my coffee?
Coffee is an addiction and bad for you.
Plug the connector into a socket while you solder the pins. Keep the tip
clean and wet with solder, don't dick around, heat the connection, poke a
bit of solder at it, and leave it alone as soon as it flows. Use a good
quality iron.