Me.too. This is not my idea; it's been done (successfully) before...
There's a lot of area for weld; probably at least an inch, on each side.
I think that, that large (approx. 1-inch long on each side) area, when properly welded, should be sufficiently strong not to pull apart or break, during usage.
Now, to build a fixture (or, "jig") to hold the two pieces in proper alignment and position, while they're being welded.
