I have done it many times. Easy-off oven cleaner will remove it. Mask off any painted areas. You can't just remove it from small areas because it will not feather or blend in. As others have mentioned I usually hose it off after 15 or 20 mins. Then you can do straightening or fixing dents. I have an old refrigerator motor with a buffing pad and the various compounds. I have found with this set-up I can finish sand with worn-out 400 grit and polish buff with the white compound and get great results. It is true it will scratch easier without the anodizing. The anodizing was put on to protect it from the abuses of daily driving. I polish mine once a year Simichrome from a motorcycle shop and it looks better to me than ones that have a coating. I thought it would oxidize over time winters but that has never happened to me. I would think with 1000 grit and something like Simichrome you will be happy.