Using a shear and brake you could make both the top and bottom cover in
about 15 minutes. As a matter of fact, a jig saw and a vice would be able
to make one quickly. A good scrounger should have a few sheets of scrap
perforated material around. You do not even need to weld the corners of the
top - just a few short pieces of angle aluminum with pop rivets.

Save the debt owed by your machinest friend for something more difficult.

73, Colin K7FM