RE: having trouble soldering
Hi Dave,
I solder quite frequently with the job I do (so you know my background) and yes you probably have more than enough wattage for the job you're doing. I appears though, that the problem you're running into is the tip of the soldering iron is not being "tinned". What I mean by that is first clean the unheated iron tip well (clean off any manufacturing oils, etc). Next, turn on your iron for about five minutes then dip the tip of the iron into the flux, you do have flux don't you? Finally, right after you've fluxed the tip apply some solder to the tip and let it flow all over the tip. This will prepare your iron for all future soldering jobs. Hopefully this is of some help to you.
Good luck and be well,
Steve S.