the correct flat black paint is good for heat transfer [NOT the heavy gloss black many use] but not necessary, leaving the top tank unfinished makes no diff - I left mine brass when I first cleaned it up .... any solvent will take the paint off, use brasso or such to polish it up .... I don't keep it shiney, I let it "age gracefully" afterwards [like the driver grin ]

Bill


Moved over to the Passing Lane

"When we tug a single thing in nature we find it attached to the rest of the world" John Muir
"When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" me
Some TF series details & TF heater pics & Rust-a-holics Unanimous parking lot