Air Filter Mesh

Doing some cosmetics while putting in new carbs. Is the original air filter mesh painted silver or just polished metal? (74 850 MkII). It's hard to tell but I'm leaning toward painted.

The ones I've handled seem to be cheap SS satin finish that can sorta rust and corrode but for color changes more than crusting up like iron/steel sheet metal.

I bench wire brushed last one that sat 3 yr in open and just needed a rebrushing to look good as new, which is slight sheen of grayish sliver SS/galvanized tint.
I think a magnet is attracted but it would to low grade SS as it dpes sheet steel so still can't confirm what the screen is made of - ugh.

Hobot, You decribed it exactly. I hope you were a long way from those tornados. I wet sanded it with 320 and it doesn't look to bad, didn't want it to rust. I'll try the wire brush, doesn't have to be pristine.

Yes just clean metal is fine for the air screen to me though might be cool to paint for as long as that may last. I don't think it can rust or mine sure would of. Screen sat on painted air plates which did rust up stored uncovered to need repainting.

Tornado's missed us but not the rain. I can't imagine being so wiped out as so many have been. Shed in near cave in bluff and stays humid much of the time so once a motorcycle recovered it must be stored in attached garage or just decay in a year to something a dog dug up. I may try spray wax need year on everything.