If you want to go back to the bare wood, Citristrip is the way to go. Slop it on thick, wrap the piece in aluminum foil, wait thirty minutes, unwrap it and clean it up with mineral spirtis. If there's thick finish down in the checkering you will want to work it loose with a toothbrush before you clean it up with the mineral spirits. It's very simple to use stuff.
Weagle
