Hockey, be a little careful if you decide to solder cables. Most of the better cables have teflon (PTFE) dielectric, and teflon is bad stuff when it is heated. Completely stable to about 450F, then begins to decompose into some of the nastiest chemicals known to man.
Best to use a fume hood when you are around teflon, or at least solder while looking up at the joint, so that the fumes rise away from you. A respirator doesn't hurt, either.
HF is not good for you. Just sayin'.