Abstract: A resistance welding process in which the welding electrodes are moved at least via a wording piston-cylinder unit, wherein before the start of the welding process, the welding electrode is in a ready position in which it gently touches the workpiece or there is a gap in the tenth of a millimeter range between the welding electrode and the workpiece, and during the subsequent welding process pneumatic force is applied to the working piston-cylinder unit, where the maximum possible stroke of the working piston-cylinder from the position of readiness corresponds to 1 to 40 times the travel of collapsing bulges in projection welding or 1 to 120 times the penetration distance of the welding electrode in an originally hard material becoming pasty during the welding process in spot welding, or 1 to 60 times the penetration distance of the welding electrode in an originally soft material becoming pasty during the welding process in spot welding. The invention also relates to a device for implementing the process.