I' am with Chipper on liking aluminum.
Basic workshop stuff is what I have been using lately.
Aluminum needs to be heated, clamped in a vise ect. bending with steady pressure,, holding the other end with an adjustable wrench ect.
I use 1/8 & 16th aluminum for most my stuff, easier to work with also.
I also have been brazing the pieces together with ''Alum weld rod'' that you get from Harbor Freight , using a propane torch,, 'Map gas is even better'
The metal needs to be 'very'' clean, using a stainless wire brush.
Each contact piece needs to be brazed first, & then clamped together & heated again,, to fuse.
It takes about 740+*f to get the rod to puddle.
If you do it correctly & take your time,, you will have a 'very' strong brazed joint.
The PSI strength of that rod is around 40K.
There is a bunch of You- tube vids on using it, & stuff like it.
It does take practice, & patence.
Cutting out radius sections ect., a lot of times, I draw the curve,, & then drill a bunch of very small holes along where I drew.
You can then take a hack saw, & cut sections to where you drilled the holes, & then break each section off with using vise grips ect.
If using a grinder, be ''very'' careful with what type of wheels ect. you use.
Aluminum clogs in those very easy, & can potentially make the wheel ect. explode.
''Basic metal safety stuff''.
Check out my GX 200 swap thread if you like, my latest chain/clutch guard is in it.
Best of luck.
I