plate refinishing detail

[Gerald Posey]

    I am a hobbyist rebuilding a small Heintzman grand.  I am taking the
plate out to refinish it.  The question is how do you refinish the screws
that hold it in?  Paint separately, then put them in?  Does this scratch the
paint? Do you mask or scrape the paint from the plate holes?
    What do you do with the hitch pins?  Take them out? mask?, or clean
later?
Thanks,
Gerald