I had to paint some parts I made out of aluminum and got a zinc primer and top coat in spray cans from an auto paint place. I also used a clear coat for protection but you wouldn't need to. The key is to use the right primer on aluminum and the paint store had it on the shelf.I don't have any desire to restore the plated part, I just thought it to be a bit unusual for aluminum to be plated on a utility tool-type part.