As a frequent welder I must caution you not so much about the intense light but about weld spatter. welds will frequently “explode” and throw molten metal around. The spatter can hit your lens and it will stick to the surface. There is a substantial chance of cratering under the blob. You only have to examine the average welding hood (that the welder wears) to see plenty of spatter. A UV or other expendable protective filter would be a real good idea.
