I'm using rosin core solder and I wiped down each contact point with rubbing alcohol after repositioning it in the clamps. The joints look nice, the wire just sticks out of the board about a 1/32 with a round dollop of solder flowed in, no globs.
I think my previous attempts to build a TI PTR I was just working in to cramped conditions on the board for my ability's and probably overheated a component.
This time around the lights turned on and I actually heard the atty fire.