A method for producing a cooling channel system for an internal combustion engine, which has a cooling channel in the piston crown. The piston crown is adjoined by a lower piston part having a piston boss, pin bores and piston skirts. Firstly, a piston blank having a peripheral collar projecting radially in the region of the piston crown is produced, wherein the collar, forming a subsequent ring zone wall is then reshaped and, in a transition area between the piston crown and the lower piston part, a contact area for the collar is formed, and the collar is reshaped in such a way until the outer radially peripheral edge comes very close to or completely into contact with the contact area in order to form a closed cooling channel. Following the reshaping, the end region of the ring zone wall forms a defined gap (X) with respect to the upper edge of the piston skirt.

An exemplary method of making a piston assembly may include providing a piston crown defining at least in part an upper combustion bowl surface. The piston crown includes at least one crown mating surface. The method further comprising moving the crown mating surface in proximity to a skirt mating surface defined by a piston skirt, wherein the crown and skirt cooperate to define a cooling gallery extending about a periphery of the crown. The method may further include bonding the crown and skirt together by initiating an electric current along a conductive path between the crown and skirt mating surfaces, the conductive path comprising at least one conductive material extending from the crown mating surface to the skirt mating surface.