Major challenges in the welding of copper are high reflectivity for infrared wavelengths and insufficient reproducibility of the welds. Studies have shown that the surface conditioning of copper materials with pulsed green laser radiation stabilizes process conditions, as well as significantly increases bsorption of pulsed infrared laser radiation. Experimental results are presented, which illustrate how advantages of this conditioning can be transferred to welding with continuous IR radiation. It is possible to significantly reduce the necessary IR laser power and to optimize the weld appearance. In this regard, the influence of inert gas and the conditioning parameters is analyzed.