All this talk of polished fittings got me in a mood...Guess what I spent my Sunday doing???
Three bouts of oven cleaner like Blykins described, followed by 1500 wet/dry, then 2000 wet/dry, and polished with Tripoli on a Dremel felt wheel. Not too shabby
If I ever own a Kirkham it will be polished by someone else or painted!
-John