This seemed best to ask here, as it involves the frame finish, not a mechanical aspect of it.
I have an old Nishiki International, all steel, but it is not chromed. I have seen cycles here and there with "polished" lugs and dropouts. I have also seen a cycle or two which a friend filed off the derailleur clamp (for those E-type derailleurs), and left it polished and shiny silver. Is it possible for me to file and wet sand like crazy with finer and finer grits until my lugs are polished and shiny? The rest of the bike will be painted (fire truck red
) I can't afford chroming, but I do like shiny stuff. My biggest concern that after all that work, they will just rust over after a few months. Will I have to get clear powdercoat over the whole thing to protect from rust? Any help is much appreciated!