Rats??

A half hour? I think you need a new soldering gun. lol

I resent that!! I got the cheapest one Home Depot had!!

haha. :P

Don't know what else to tell you.

I have a setup very similar to that that I use as a temporary house for our beardy when we're moving. I used a Dremel "saw" to cut away the center of the lid. It took a patient, slow, steady touch...but it worked well.