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That sounds like a good way to do it, although I think maybe you did a lot more work than was neccessay.
I usually use sandpaper to smooth out things like manifolds etc. For something like a badge you should be able to get the clear finish off using Acetone or a similar chemical.
For really getting the shine back into our badge I would have used a linen buffing wheel chucked into a drill motor and dressed it with Tripoli grit.
The Tripoli will easily cut through the plastic or laquer finish and shine up the metal without cutting too deeply into it, just in case it has a thin plating of gold or chrome you don't want to damage.
Change linen wheels (never mix grits on the same wheel) and finish your polish job with 'rouge' -red - grit, which is extrmely fine, like 3000 grit.
As with any polished metal exosed to the weather, you should probably put on a coat of clear lacquer or plastic spray.
I have polished out intake manifolds until they look better than chrome, as well as my SU's and most of the car's exterior trim.
If you have a car with plastic headlight lenses, use the same routine to make them perfectly clear again, then finish off with Armorall or Aerospace 303 to keep UV damage to a miinimum.
I'll admit that I go nuts polishing things up - there's instant gratification in every job!
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