Here's a 1750 block I'm working on - I just scrubbed it with degreaser and scouring pads from the supermarket. You know the things for scrubbing kitchen pans? I prefer the "natural" aluminium look rather than painting and as soon as the paint starts peeling/flaking it will look awful.
Before:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...DSC01033-1.jpg
After:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...s/DSC01047.jpg