Looking at the gallon cans of carb cleaning solvent for $19.99 or lacquer thinner at 16.00 / gallon,,,,I have used both of these in the past and know either will get the job done,, Are there any recommendations on a cheaper, less hazardous alternative?

I used kerosene when I did mine seemed to work well

I use Vanish bathroom cleaner and a toothbrush on the outside. Spray it on, let it sit for a few, hose it off. As for the insides, kerosene seems to do nicely. And a can of that air you spray computer keyboards with to blow out passages.

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If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

Buy and use the correct solvent for the job, if you possibly can. Substitutes don't work as well and/or cause their own problems.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

SSD is absolutely right. Use the right tool for the job.
I have used many industrial chemicals over the years and my experience is that, with due care the danger can be greatly reduced. If you wear rubber gloves (not latex, nitrile or vinyl), eye protection and respiratory protection, the hazards are negligible. The only chemical related accidents I have ever seen have all been due to carelessness (ask me why I had to rinse my eyes out with acetone ). You may have to pay an eco fee to dispose of your used solvent, but it's worth it. Consider the cost if you mess up your part with an inappropriate material or the time you have to invest by using a less effective solvent. Use the right tool for the job.

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1970 four-door Dart, 225/A-904/2.45 gears. 0-60 in twenty three minutes!

Rinsed your eyes out with acetone? OW!!! You gotta tell that story.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I was laying up a fibreglass boat hull. I was rolling out the bubbles while another fellow wetted out the roving with a wet-out gun (a gun which mixes polyester resin with MEKP catalyst - MEKP will cause blindness if it gets in your eyes). The guy running the gun got the hoses caught on the scaffolding and started tugging on the gun to free them. In tugging, he accidentally pulled the trigger when the gun was pointed right at my unprotected face (we were both being careless). The only thing that dissolves catalysed resin is acetone, so I had to rinse my peepers with the stuff for about 5 minutes and then switch over to eyewash to rinse out the acetone. Not the best day.

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1970 four-door Dart, 225/A-904/2.45 gears. 0-60 in twenty three minutes!

Gah. Sounds like an awful day. Reminds me of the day I was walking up my folks' driveway, home from high school, and saw my mother in the garage applying methylene chloride to a piece of furniture. No gloves, no face shield, no goggles, no nothing. I opened my mouth and took a breath, intending to say "Put down that paintbrush slowly, and go put on gloves and a face shield". Before I could say "put", what do you think happened? Right, she accidentally splashed methylene chloride in her face. I grabbed her and propelled her into the house, up the stairs, into the shower, put the water on full blast and made her stand there with her face under the shower for ten minutes.

Chemicals strong enough to dissolve paint, carburetor gunk, adhesive or whatever are also strong enough to dissolve skin, brain cells, and eyes. Wear more protection than you think is necessary!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Yeah. That day is why I now own a $200 full-face respirator as well as the half-mask I was wearing at the time.

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1970 four-door Dart, 225/A-904/2.45 gears. 0-60 in twenty three minutes!

thanks

that what makes this forum so useful, great info exchange, I'll go with the "carb cleaner" and plan to be more environmentally and personally responsible than I was in days past,