This upsets me.

[Sketch o5]

id say maybe just try to dremel off the surface stuff and then tape off around them and paint them with some black rustoleum to protect it from rusting. just make sure you dont tape off too highly above the bolts, so you dont have black paint sticking out on the top of the plate, haha.

 

[fothermucker]

Sketch, that's exactly what I'm going to end up doing.

 

[SykVSyx]

id say maybe just try to dremel off the surface stuff and then tape off around them and paint them with some black rustoleum to protect it from rusting. just make sure you dont tape off too highly above the bolts, so you dont have black paint sticking out on the top of the plate, haha.

I'm actually in the same boat, hate looking at it, even though it's behind the plate. It's the little things that I need to start putting some effort in to.

FM, take some pics of the finished work, if you don't mind.

 

[fothermucker]

Looks like I'll be buying some blue tape and a small grinder bit. I think my dad has a dremel - I'll take a whack at it this Sunday and take before/after pics.