That'll come to it, if you keep polishing...
I'm worried sick about what your Dad's solvent could be...Carbon Tetrachloride? methyl ethyl Ketone? To name two that would have been about then, that we know better about now....Perhaps you could soak a bit of asbestos in the thinners to give it a bit of abrasion?
A face mask is not going to give you any protection from fumes whatsoever...You need a respirator. You will also be absorbing it through your skin, so chemical gloves are needed too.
Do yourself a favour ...Take the stuff down the end of the garden and see how easily it ignites. Then take the frame off and blast and paint it properly.....Please...
