[Tom Krajci]

I stick weld mild steel, 1/8" to 1/4" thickness, using 6011 or 7018 rod.

Sometimes I have a need to reduce the stress that arc welding puts at the joints.

Proper heat treating often requires an oven, where you heat the piece to 550C - 700C, keep it at that temperature for an hour, then cool it slowly.

I don't have an oven, and don't plan to get one.

If I use a torch to heat joints, then wrap the area in fiberglass insulation so that it retains heat for some time....will that at least do a partial job of stress reduction? Or is this a waste of time?

Do I have other options, or is a proper oven the only choice?

Thanks in advance.

[joelwelder]

it all depends on what your doing if the weldment can withhold the heat sometimes you can go higher to 1100 or so bringing temp up slowly and holding for an hour then bring it down slowly then wrap we used this process to heat stress amine piping in oil refinerys