If you have the time give it a go, i have this finished but i don`t have a completed pic yet.I does take a bit of time but i enjoyed doing it.The downtube just needed some Autosol to finish
The Orange was the subject of a thread on here, perhaps the owner will be along in a minute to give you the lowdown, (I remember the love it or hate it Halfords lettering).
"Hi all, its easier than you might think, you've just got to put a cuple of wk's aside to do it!
I started with a medium scotchbright pad and then moved onto a 600 grade wet n dry paper then fined it all using 1200 grade wet n dry, finally using a drill and a 2" lambs wool polishing head I set too polishing all the areas I could get too using the drill, in the areas I couldnt I used a cloth by hand, I used a compound called solvol autosol metal polish and the results speak for themselves I think!
fitting the fresh decals was probably more of a head ache!
Its all complete now, just finished building it tonight, so I'll get some pic's up soon, there are a few over on pink bike but for sum reason they are upside down?!
Cheers for all the compliments, makes all that effort even more worth while!!"
Theres somewhere in Halifax I called and they said they could do it but I'd need the frame stripping of all its powdercoat first. Can't remember who exactly it was… Think they were on Gibbet St or Queens Rd (nice). Ended up buying a metal polishing kit from ebay with all the mops and polishing paste etc, just never got around to stripping the frame and then got it powdercoated instead. Might have a go on my old PDC when I get a chance…
Most stuff that's factory polished is either anodised or lacquered – it dulls the finish a bit, but it at least stays the way it is. TBH DIYing an entire frame would be a massive pain, as would the upkeep.