I,m looking for the best way to attach a 3" ball valve (non-threaded brass) to 3" copper pipe?

Question

do you braze it ?

Answer 1

Here's some links to check out about how to solder. The first one has some video clips. Hope it helps.

Answer 2

3” ball valve? Are building a nuclear submarine?
The manner in which you asked the question of how to connect a pipe to a valve makes me wonder if you even should attempt it. If you still feel adventurous then do that:
1. Use map or acetylene gas to sweat (or solder) the joint. These gases have higher temperatures and since brass/cupper are good heat conductors you will need that extra heat.
2. Take the valve apart. I do not know what valve you have but I would not sweat the whole thing since you will melt or damage the seats (where the ball rides).
3. This is a large plumbing please so please practice before go to the real thing. I trust you know how to solder like clean and flux the surfaces, heat properly and solder the joint.
4. When you sweat make sure no solder gets on threads. Use if you must wet cloth to prevent heat from reaching the undesirable places. If it does clean it up carefully.

Let me know how thing will work out.
Good luck

Answer 3

You need to sweat the pipe. First clean the pipe with sand paper on both ends until they are shiny. Apply flux to both ends of the pipe and inside the female ends of the gate valve. Protect any flamable exposed materials near the joint. Heat the pipe at the connection joint with the valve with a propane torch until the solder will melt when you touch it to the connection joint. The flux acts as a sponge to draw the solder into the joint. 3" is a big pipe so be sure that the solder has gone in all the way around the pipe. Good luck.

Answer 4

You need a large acetylene b tank with around a number 11 tip for that big of a job. It has to be soldered. I would definitely hire a plumber for that job. The torch,tip,and bottle will cost around $300. roll of solder $11,flux $4. I would charge you around $250 if it was in an exposed location and you supplied the valve and pipe. cheaper and guaranteed if it leaks.

Answer 5

MY HUBBY IS A MASTER PLUMBER AND SAID IT HAS TO BE
SAUDERED (MAY NOT BE SPELLED RIGHT) ON TO IT AND SWEATED. GOOD LUCK