Abstract: A method is disclosed for laser welding two sheets of metal, the metal being of the type having associated gases tending to be trapped and expand in the weld zone during welding due to heat from the laser. These expanded gases tend to separate the upper and lower portions of the weld zone and/or expand through the weld zone toward the laser beam to create porosity in the final weld. Such metal may be coated, such as galvanized steel, in which case the zinc vaporizes into a gas in the weld zone between the adjacent sheets, or it may be poorly fitting sheets, in which case air is trapped in surface irregularities between the sheets. In either case, the method adds to the standard laser beam a surrounding stream of pressurized shield gas effective to create a pressure at the surface of the weld zone sufficient to force the molten metal of the two sheets together and force the expanded associated gases out of the weld zone in a direction away from the laser beam, whereby a non-porous weld may be created.