[Snakeman]

back in jr hi school, we made aluminum castings, to keep it from rubbing off use a thin coating of clear laquer to keep the aluminum off your hands.

the heat issue...
i was thinking that they might put in a phenolic spacer between the threads and the knob, though that might allow the knob to wiggle around slightly which would not be good.

i only touch my shifter when actually shifting since i got the aluminum knob.

i do like my aluminum shift knob tho.
mine was made by Fabrication And Speed Tech. out of L.A.