Of all the crap I do and do very well, f'n plumbing I hate. Of course, because I suck at it. And of course, because I don't do much of it.
With that out of the way...
Simple thing - faucett packing. Never have much luck with it. When possible I just replace the valve. Tried back a way to repack a hose bib. Lasted a week at best. Sweated a new one on from under house. Sweating I can manage pretty good.
This is a case where sweating a new fitting on isn't straight forward. In one of those laundry cubbyholes. Wood on 3 sides of the pipes like an inch away, pipe is short and covered with years of paint. Don't have a plumbers heat shield. Figured once again I'd try repacking the bonnet. Fortunately upper valve unscrews from it's lower piece that was sweated to supply 30 years ago.
I repack (white Teflon), put new shutoff washer and base washer. Lightly snug bonnet and turn on water with plan to tighten until it stops leaking so I don't over tighten it. Do that and OK. Open and close valve a few times and there's signs of moisture. Mumble mutha f#$*!er although not totally surprised. Tighten some more. Few on/offs. Signs of stem moisture again. Tighten some more. Seems OK. I have as much faith in it not seeping in the future as I do the deficit being balanced out.
I'm sure I'm gonna end up going through taking the old valves off totally and replacing if I want any confidence in no leaking.
Anyone wanna toss out "You dumb s*it. You have to yadda yadda if you expect it to work."?
Red...