The two items that have made all the difference for me are liquid acid flux and a bench top 2" cut off saw.
Liquid acid flux has made soldering so much easier and cleaner. Brush the flux to the area to be soldered. Apply solder to the heated soldering tip. Touch the tip to the surface to be soldered and watch it flow. A lot less clumpy and messy than before. Then clean with water and soap to prevent oxidation. I use Lucky Bob's (has a brush in the cap) recommended by another HRW member.
The Drillmaster cut off saw from Harbour Freight was highlighted on HRW as well. The included steel blade has been replaced with a thin Enkay 2" composite cut-off wheel providing cleaner cuts of brass strips and tubing and steel wire than I could do with a Dremel disc. The arbor hole has to be increased to 3/8" which can easily be enlargened by hand with a drill bit. Cutting's a bit slow through .064" thick brass strips but does so, cleanly.
I consider myself a novice at building chassis but it just shows that with good tools (not necessarily expensive), advice and recommendations (thanks HRW and Chrisguyw) and practice you can get a reasonable outcome.
Hope that helps.
Dan