At DIY and dedicated paint outlets you can buy paint stripper which you yourself apply. Modern paint strippers are based on compounds which are next to odourless and essentially water soluble. The trick is to leave them in contact with the paint for long enough, in fact three or more hours is in order. You will find that the surface appears to dry out, spray with water using a spent glass cleaner or other spray bottle to extend the effect of the stripper. Use a wide blade to scrape off the gunge that forms and repeat the application if/as necessary. The final clean is best done with steel wool and water - you can end up with a perfect surface for coating with varnish or other. Expect the first coat of varnish or similar finish to need light sanding because of the fibres that are exposed during cleaning.