I'm rebuilding my first Aida lantern (yeah, yeah, I know, but read on - this is applicable to stoves too!) I've gotten it all apart, cleaned up and/or replaced all the things that need it, and am ready to reassemble; but there's this problem...

The inside of the tank is coated with "shellac", the hardened remnants of kerosene long forgotten. What is the easiest and/or best way to remove the stuff?

Grant i use Citric acid in water and let it soak for 4 hrs depending on temp and strenth of the mix.
Others here will tell you to use carb cleaner and there will be other sergestions as well to come for sure.
What model Aida is it . I have a 200 nice little light. I also have 4 others that is simeler to this all 5 lights are from 5 diferent countries.

Carburator cleaner works pretty good, but it STINKS. The best stuff comes in a gallon can with a dipping basket. It's kinda yellow in color. You can use it over and over, but be warned, it eventually eats through the can. Once that smell get's into your bench or floor, it will never come out. Another thing that works good is paint remover. The brand around here is JASCO. You may not be able to get it any more because it has methelyene chloride as the main ingredient. It smells too, but it doesn't linger. I have also cleaned really cruddy things by boiling them in tri-sodium phosphate solution. If you can't get that, try dishwasher soap. Not regular detergent, but the powdered stuff for automatic dishwashers. It's also a good excuse to fire up one of the other stoves to heat it up. One thing I have found that works great to cook things in is an old enameled steel drawer out of on old refrigerator. They tend to be just the right size, and they're often free for the taking. Good luck.