Abstract: A welding device for welding a stud to a substrate along a welding axis in a welding direction, comprising an inert gas cover with an inert gas inlet arranged as a ring around the axis, with an inert gas outlet, and an opening facing the welding direction, the opening having transversely to the welding direction an opening diameter, wherein the inert gas inlet is at an inlet distance from the opening counter to the welding direction, wherein the inert gas outlet is at an outlet distance from the opening counter to the welding direction, and a holding device holding the stud within the cover during welding, the holding device having an outside diameter and a stud receptacle with an inside diameter, wherein the outlet distance is at least half of a difference between the opening diameter and the outside diameter or at least the same size as the inlet distance.