After 2 years of practice and several projects later, I can confidently say I know how to flux core weld. I've also done 1 successful stick weld project and the engine support brackets have held together for 40 some odd engine hours on a Kubota tractor.
1) Get your material and objects prepped (wire brush, band saw, clamps, etc)
2) Gather everything together and the worksite ready. In my case its usually the front driveway in a dirt area, generator, helmet, cutter, wire brush, gloves.
3) Put on PPE. Earbuds included.
4) Get to it. Optional: grind things down and make it look pretty and paint. In this case its a muffler, so a little wire wheeling after and no paint.
#1 is always the longest, either gathering the materials, brainstorming the fix, thinking some more how to fix it, finally finding the time to do #2-4.
This was a vibrated blown out muffler on a UTV, The crack happened because whoever fixed it previously didnt bolt it correctly and it separated from a support bracket. I found a scrap chunk of battery tray that was the same thickness (16-18 gauge), tack welded, then was able to stitch a few beads with only a few small blowouts, which I was able to quickly fix.
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