So much for a January noise-production.

Cheap, nickel-plated screws, even heavily abraded with the dremel, do not good solder posts make.  Nothing I have done has been able to convince the solder to stay attached to the screw.  Vexing.

So I have just received a pack of rather more expensive brass screws of the same pitch and length, and this weekend I shall replace all ninety-six of the old new screws (which shall be flung into the outer darkness or, at least, the recycling bin) with new new ones.  And then try soldering again.  If this doesn’t work, I shall scream and swear, and generally throw a tantrum.