Soldering copper pipe to shower valve
I have a shower valve body (brass) and am trying to solder copper pipe to it. For the life of me I can't seem to get the pipe and fitting hot enough to melt the solder. I noticed soldering copper pipe to the drop elbow took more flame heat than normal. Is there some trick when soldering copper to brass? I will say the pipe does not fit snugly into shower valve connector.
The valve body does have male threads so I could get a threaded copper connection, but I am worried about it leaking. If I use a threaded copper connection with teflon tape or cream (is one better than the other?), how do I insure it won't leak - i.e. how much should it be tightened <--- question from someone who has variable luck with compression fittings. If use the copper threaded connection would a week of checking for a slow leak be sufficient time?
Just my amateur experience
I recently replaced my shower valve with a Kohler unit and it has male threads. The unit has the option of using the threaded connection or soldering. The ½” copper pipe fits inside the male nipple and then soldered. Kind of male/female set up. :confused: I’ve also seen this on the new hose bibs. I use both propane and mapp gas, and it soldered right up with propane. You say water in the pipe is not a problem so it should solder. I have learned, at least in my experience, that a very low propane tank will still produce a flame but may not be hot enough to heat a heavier piece like the brass. As for water in the pipe, an old trick still recommended today is to shove some bread in the pipe to absorb and stop the water. The bread will burn up when soldering and flush out when the water is on. I’ve used this many times on vertical drop pipes.