Seems to help the oil work in.
I get being cautious with heat, but honestly, I’ve had more luck with a torch than a hair dryer when things are really seized. The trick is just to go slow and keep the flame moving. That said, I totally get the “paranoid about melting something I can’t see” part—been there. Sometimes it’s just a judgment call, but for me, the torch has saved a lot of frustration.
The trick is just to go slow and keep the flame moving.
That’s pretty much the key, yeah. I’ve used a torch plenty of times, but I always double-check what’s behind whatever I’m heating—learned that the hard way with a melted washer once. If you’re worried about plastic or solder joints nearby, sometimes a heat shield or even a wet rag can help. Still, nothing beats that satisfying “pop” when it finally lets go.
I hear you on the melted washer—been there, done that, and had to explain to a tenant why their laundry room smelled like burnt plastic for a week. I’ll add: if you’re working in a tight spot, those little aluminum heat shields from the hardware store are worth their weight in gold. I’ve even used an old cookie sheet in a pinch. Just don’t ask my wife about her missing bakeware...
I get the appeal of those heat shields, but honestly, I’ve had better luck just taking my time and using a wet rag as a barrier when soldering near anything sensitive. Less risk of accidentally knocking something loose or scratching up the walls. Cookie sheets work in a pinch, but I’ve seen them reflect heat weirdly and actually make things worse if you’re not careful. Just my two cents—sometimes low-tech is safer.
I’ve actually had a similar experience—tried those fancy heat shields a couple times, but honestly, I always end up back with the tried-and-true wet rag. It’s just less fiddly, and you can get it exactly where you need it, even in tight spots. Plus, like you said, there’s less chance of scratching up the finish or accidentally shifting something while you’re working.
Funny thing about cookie sheets—I thought I was being clever using one behind a valve once, but the way it bounced the heat back actually softened some solder joints I didn’t want to mess with. Ended up having to redo more than I planned. Lesson learned: sometimes the simplest solution is best.
If you’re trying to remove a stem, especially in an older house where things might be a bit stuck, I’d say patience is your best friend. A little penetrating oil ahead of time helps if things are corroded. And when it comes time to solder, keeping the area damp with a rag not only protects what’s behind but also gives you a bit more control over how much heat gets where.
I’ve also found that wrapping a damp rag around copper pipes nearby can keep them from transferring heat too far down the line—especially important if there’s PEX or plastic fittings close by. It’s easy to overlook how far heat can travel along copper.
One last thing: if you’re worried about water in the line making soldering tricky (that steam hiss is never a good sign), bread works in a pinch to plug things up temporarily. Not everyone likes that trick, but it’s saved me from chasing leaks more than once.
Anyway, low-tech doesn’t mean less effective—sometimes it just means fewer surprises.
