Dave- have you got a torch set? Clamp your metal sheet to the working table- 26 gauge steel- and take a small rose bud and heat your metal in circular paterns. Hold the rose bud 8-10" away from the metal as you go. Try to get the heat even in your metal as you heat it by moving at a steady rate until you see the metal start to sweat- NOW it is ready to bend into your basic shape. Take hold of it with welding gloves, release your clamps, and bend it to form- hold it for 20 seconds to allow the metal to cool and set.
When the "sweat" appears on the metal you have just released the molicules to re-structure- you only get one shot to do this because it gets brittle more & more as you do this, so once by hand- twice is hammer.
Don't heat the metal to glow- only enough to get the oil inside to release.