What is the best way to strip paint off of a piece of furniture

citristrip a safe non toxic remover

Try using CitriStrip. It is available in many stores.

A chemical stripper is really the only way to go. I like the way methylene chloride strippers work but you need a lot of ventilation. A citrus based stripper doesn't have the fumes but they are a bit more time consuming.

Citristrip is the best! Not cheap, but works great.

In an well vented area not in the sun, apply paint remover as instructed and thick. I us a putty knife to remove the crinkled paint, and sometimes a second coat is needed. Nuturalize the remover as per instructions , usually water. Iightly sand after it dries and apply your finish coat. This is not hard, but time spent = best results.

I like Zip Strip.