Portaband housing/frame material?

[Trip59]

Neighbor borrowed a portaband blade this morning, when he came to bring it back, he also had his old portaband in his hand. Frayed cord, wheels all wobbly, bottom corner broken off (like so many of them are...) and generally a sad piece of tool.

Well, I figured I'd take a look at it since he GAVE it to me. 15 minutes and I had fixed the problem with the wheels, identified three other issues and will be repairing them, I have a new cord and the motor is in great shape. I need to buy two new tires and some brushes, but I'm rebuilding the whole thing, getting rid of the gunk and grime, shine it up like new and get another 30 years out of it.

So the main thing, is it a straight aluminum alloy casting? Anyone welded one up before? I'm going to have to graft a piece of AL in place, the plan was to build a few beads on the broken edge, then make a piece to fit, weld it in and grind it smooth/clearance the inside.

Forgot to mention, sorry, it's a Milwaukee.