Hi all,
Thanks for the input but I perfer a sweated valve if possible.
Usuallly, I remove the stem, plug the pipe with bread & use a pencil flame torch, & watch how I orient the flame. .
When it comes to replacing them, I cut the pipe back, sand the surface, treat it to a heated bath of paste to clean out any pits that may have developed on the surface over time, & I'm good to go.
If it can't be cut, I'll sweat off the old valve, do the paste bath while rubbing vigorously with steelwool , pits again you know, bread in the hole again , & again good to go.
By the way old pipe? plenty of paste & elbow grease
If that doesn't work it's time for new pipe cause even a compression valve will probably crush it.