Looking good Stan.

I use Alligator clips as heat sinks, especially when doing the top of pots where you need to heat them up a bit.
I always sand the top of the pot the get my solder onto it before i put any earth wires to it.
I also often use 3 pair of hands, a small vice or the other one i have is a jewelers rotating clamp with a magnifying glass attached to it and 2 alligator clamps.