[A CA Guy]

I did mean solder, but you need to use a torch for that as well and was what I meant. I don’t play with fire well.

[NicknamedBob]

The rules for soldering pipe are similar to the rules for handling guns. Among other things, be aware of what's behind your area of interest. For tight work, a shield of aluminum and/or drywall will keep heat away from wood.

Keep a wet hand towel around for dealing with little annoyances.

A propane torch needn't be a scary thing. It's just a tool.

Think of it as a more compact and high-intensity hair dryer. But don't try drying your hair with it.

It does require practice, to get a feel for the heat and timing. That could be done with some of the scrap pipe that's being discarded. Use connectors, they're the cheapest. Cut the old pipe, clean it, and solder a connector in. Do a few of those until you feel confident, and you'll be doing wet-work in no time.