Actually the best way to strip paint (or finish) is with a heat gun. I used to use stripper until I found the joys (if you can call it that) of a heat gun. I'm in the process of stripping the woodwork ini the living room of my apartment. I would never go back to caustic, messy stripper again unless I was forced to. You just have to be careful you don't burn the wood (or other material), or catch it on fire.
Sincerely;
Daniel J. Summers