paint wont add strength but i wouldnt worry unless you went mental with the sandpaper (if you found it erotic you may have)
-vht clear coat for a shine (i dont trust vht clear myself but have never used )
-any vht black tends to come out dull/matt but saves rust on non stainless parts
-buy a buffing pad and some blue compound (read up on polishing metal)
[/size]personally i would go the polishing route
[/size]sand with finer and finer wet and dry then get a buffing wheel for a bench grinder or handheld grinder with the right compound and go to town
[/size]- i use a handheld grinder with a buffing flapwheel with blue compound and get pretty good results
[/size]i even got mirror finish on a vape machine after finishing with silvol but that might be a bit more than you want