Abstract: A clamp for laser welding operations includes a solid member having at least one aperture extending completely therethrough. A portion of the solid member surrounds the entire periphery of the aperture. A connector is attached to the solid member for connecting the solid member to a moving device which moves the solid member between unclamping and clamping positions. The solid member, when in the clamping position, engages a stack of metal sheets under pressure and urges the metal sheets together against an underlying backup into continuous contact along the length of a weld site defined by the peripheral extent of the aperture in the solid member.