Soldering pipe to shower valve

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ragtop68rs

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Guys, what's the trick to doing this? I removed the cartridge and I'm trying to solder in the copper pipe but I can't seem to get it hot enough. Should I be heating the pipe, the valve or both at the same time? Thanks, John
 

ImOld

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Lots of possibilties.

You should be heating the cleaned and fluxed joint itself on all sides as much as possible.

Should take no more than 30 seconds before it sucks the solder up into the joint.

You do not need to feed the joint solder until it's running and dripping on eveything.

If the torch is of sufficient capacity and the flame shape is correct as in forcefull and pointy.

If there is no water whatsoever in the the joint.

Applies to all solder joints.
 

Cacher_Chick

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The shower valve body has a lot of mass and takes more time to bring up to temperature than the pipe or other fittings. You want to try to heat both sides of the joint evenly.
Mapp gas is hotter than propane & thus works better for valves.
 
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Gary Swart

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Is the valve body threaded? Many are and if it is, sweat a copper pipe to a male adapter. Then screw the adapter into the valve body. After that, just cut a sweat.
 
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Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

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