When assembling circuits from magazines, wait a month or two for the next issue. If there are any problems with the printed circuit, corrections will be mentioned. Except where space is at a premium or cost is very important, use sockets for all ICs. This reduces the likelihood of you damaging the chip when soldering or testing other parts of the circuit. Install ICs in their sockets as a last step in assembly of the board.
Most semiconductors are heat sensitive.
Therefore, it is a good idea to place a clip on heatsink on the lead you are soldering. This directs the heat away from the component.