1. Strippers made of solvent mixtures work from the top down (left side), melting the finish into a soft goo. Methylene chloride strippers work by penetrating the finish (right side) to break the bond between it and the wood.
2. Apply the stripper in a layer 1/8 to 1/4 in. thick. On vertical surfaces, semipaste removers work best because they cling. Once the stripper is on, leave it alone and let it do the work.
3. Seal your work in a bag. If the piece is too big for a bag, cover it with a tent made of polyethylene sheeting. I like to put several layers of newspapers under the work to catch the drips.
