Jase,
Don't burn your skin off !! Just get it acid dipped - may take a couple of dunkings. There is a powder coater I use in Bayswater who has an acid bath and he charges very little - quite a refreshing bath too
. Best of all, he's open til Saturday arvo and occasionally on Sunday.
Not sure about the clear powder coat option...powder coating is quite brittle and you'll only know you've chipped it when a rust spot appears.
Cheers,
Adrian.