[dmend]

On my trike I've two aluminum cylindrical gas tanks that have ridges that run around the tanks, there by design. The ridges are pretty close together. They are starting to look bad and need some advice on cleaning and polishing them. The tanks have seen about two seasons of riding and don't look too corroded, mostly dirty. From what I'm reading I should clean with a mild soap.

For polishing, I do not want to cut the ridges away and make the tank smooth. Should I start with the the blue or red finishing abrasive? What type of wheels and techniques should I use to retain the ridges yet get the valley's of the ridges polished?

I do plan to clear-coat them when finished.
Pictures are available if needed.
Thanks,
dmend