Hi jfrancis
I have just seen this post.
The control pad is brushed stainless steel. I have restored mine as follows:
1) Remove the plate carefully by using a putty knife. Insert the knife from the left and right sides only by moving it from side to side. Once in, gently twist the knife's handle until you can feel the plate lifting.
2) Once you have removed the plate, dissolve the clearcoat with acetone or otherwise sand it off using 3M sanding pads.
3)Place the plate on a flat surface and stroke the plate with the (fairly coarse) sanding pad until you have an even, brushed surface.
4) Wipe or rinse the plate in lacquer thinners, ensuring no dust remains.
5) Obtain 'Satin' automotive clearcoat and its matching hardener from an auto paint supplier.
6) Carefully mix the clearcoat according to directions and spraypaint by using an airbrush.
7) After a few houyrs drying, the plate may now be prepared for re-fitting.
8) I used 3M double-sided tape of the very thin kind.
9) It is tricky to get the plate in position as you only basically get one chance before it touches the adhesive tape.
It is NOT possible to do this job without removing the plate. Any dust and sprayed lacquer WILL seize the moving parts below the plate.
There are pics in another thread I posted of the finished result.
dauphine/andre