Cool - I'll take a look around Charlotte for powdercoating folks. I think I could probably do a decent job of it, but powdercoat is a more durable finish (I think - am I mistaken?).

As for the brakes, you musta missed the part where people have been telling me I'm crazy for using my rear brake as my primary brake. So I definitely want a disc brake in the rear. As for having one up front, it's more for the symmetry of the whole look and for emergency stopping.

Yes, I've gone and read up on the subject. However, since I've been riding this way for four years (lately; way back in my teens hardly counts) and know how things behave, I'm just going to keep using my rear brake.