Ether, here in my part of the US, is a controlled chemical. It is flammable (highly explosive) and is a primary ingredient in vehicle engine starting fluid (to assist in combustion on very cold days). It is also an important part of diesel fuel for small engines, like those used in model aircraft.
One of the things about many of the fast evaporating solvents, like MEK, is that they can adversly affect the glue bonding the laminates of a plywood wheel together. I use simple Isopropyl alcohol, 70% by volume, as a wheel degreaser. It might take a few passes on the moving wheel with clean cloth moistened in Isopropyl, but it works. As an alternative, you could use a Pure Grain Ethyl alcohol (drinkable, like Everclear brand), as it is only about 5% water and the rest alcohol, and it evaporates fast. Kerosine, mineral spirits, some other paint thinners, leave a residue of oil on the cleaned surface. They should be avoided. One other option available through places that service mechanics shops is tool degreaser - there are several types and rates of evaporation, but I have used the 'hottest (quickest, lowest temperature evaporating) tool degreaser to clean wood for bonding with glues. Also, the solvent merely dissolves the buildup, it is the cloth that carries it away from the wheel, so be sure to use a nice absorbant, lint free cloth and present a fresh surface to the wheel every pass. It does no good to just smear the residue around on the wheel, you want to remove it. Remember, always work in an adequately ventilated area when using these solvents - they evaporate fast, they do combust as an air-fuel mixture if there is a spark in a confined area, and some of them can cause health problems. I don't usually worry about that, because my favorite place to work on my gurdy is out on the front porch in the evenings with a nice breeze blowing... Just my 2 cents worth Chris Nogy
