Would I Make A Good Stripper?

No not that kind of stripper, but I still better keep my day job.
This Fall my daughter announced that she didn’t want any more painted furniture, it just chips way too easily went she moves. I suggested that she wrap her furniture more carefully during her next move. Nope, she wants only stained furniture from now on.

She needs a new end table so I picked up this beauty at my favorite GW for $8.95.  She was in great shape except for the finish on the top.  Of course daughter wants a darker stain.  So what is a mom to do.  Strip.
The last time I stripped a piece of furniture was 30 years ago.  I absolutely hated the chemicals needed to cut through the finish and I was positive I was killing brain cells with inch I scraped off.  The chemicals made my hands tingle even through the chemical gloves. 
But since I needed to strip once again I wanted a less toxic stripper.  I chose Lift Off Paint & Varnish Remover.

Why both the glasses and safety glasses?

Because the directions were in such tiny print.

So I poured on the Lift Off and let it sit.  The gel had no smell of its own but as it started working it seemed to let off a slight odor that I thought might be from the old finish.

And the scraping began!  I did wear gloves as directed, no tingling this time.  I did get a bit on my arm a few times but it was not a problem, no irritation at all.  My only problem was that it is so dry here that the gel was drying before it could work on the finish.

It only removed a small amount of the finish with each coat.  At this rate I was afraid I would still be scraping away at this in June.

So I began brushing on the gel and covering it with plastic kitchen wrap.  This was much better and I started making progress but it did take several coats to remove all the finish.

And here she is stripped of all her finish.  Hopefully I can start sanding her this week.
Would I use this project again?  Maybe.  I have one more project coming up that requires removing the finish so I may try another stripper.  After all this is my only experience with non-brain cell killing strippers but this definitely a better than the chemical strippers from 30 years ago.
Do you have a favorite finish remover? 
I have big plans for this beauty so if you are not a follower already wander over to the sidebar and start following.
Thanks for reading ,
Traci

I will be linking up to these parties:

Furniture Friday at Miss Mustard Seed