An improved method for welding a laminated metal structure is presented herein. In one embodiment, the method includes: placing the laminated structure against a second work piece, feeding a consumable metal cored wire electrode to the weld zone, feeding a stream of shielding gas to the weld zone, and melting the consumable metal cored wire electrode. If the weld joint is a plug weld, the method also includes forming a plug hole in one of the work pieces, melting the consumable metal cored wire electrode along the circumference of the plug hole, and thereafter progressively spiraling the welding gun inwards towards the center of the plug hole to fill it with the melted electrode. The method may also include determining if melting the electrode is causing sputtering, and delaying spiraling the welding gun inwards until the sputtering subsides. A welded laminate metal structure is also provided herein.