Ice Maker Box Soldering

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Brady

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I am looking to install an ice maker box for my fridge. The last owners just ran a poly tube up through the floor and I would like to do it correctly. I was looking at the Oatey I2K boxes and was debating between the solder or the pex connections. I have soldered before and feel comfortable doing it but had a question about doing it properly. On the bottom of the valve there is a threaded fitting. Obviously you solder a female threaded fitting to a 1/2" copper pipe. But are you soldering the female fitting to the valve as well (after screwing it on)? Or do you just tape the threads and connect it? I ask because people talk about melting the box while soldering. If you are not soldering the threads I guess I don't understand why you would solder with the box attached. I would prefer the pex but the solder box is cheaper and I have access to tools to solder. Thanks for the knowledge.
 

Terry

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The threads are cut straight, and not tapered. A female fitting doesn't work on that. You can solder either copper pipe to that, or solder a PEX fitting to it.
With any care you should be able to solder it and not harm the box. I do it all the time.

icemaker-box-install-3.jpg
 

Brady

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Thanks Terry! The pictures really look like normal tapered threaded connections. Online even says to get a threaded female connection for the bottom. If the threads are cut straight why even have threads? Why not a smooth connection like most copper pipe fittings?
 
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Terry

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The valve has threads because of the plastic nut that secures the valve to the box.
Just like a lav faucet has straight threads for the nuts that secure them to a countertop or lav.
With plumbing, you need to look at the type threads to determine the correct fittings in each case.

A faucet may have straight cut threads for the securing nut. Then you supply the water with a ball end lav supply, or a flex connector with rubber seal.

A shutoff may have compression threads, using a sleeve and nut that compresses around the pipe, or again the flex with rubber seal.

Then you have tapered pipe threads that fitting into a tapered fitting. You can rub a bar of soap on the threads and snug those up, or use tape or pipe dope (thread sealant)
The bar of soap was used in the 30's.

icemaker_box.jpg
 
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