Tips on removing paint from woodwork detailing (stairs)

[Sophie4]

Hello

I would welcome any tips please on the best method to remove paint (fortunately it seems like only one coat of oil based gloss) from the detail in woodwork. I am worried that sanding will risk damaging some of the detail - the challenge is deep in the detailed indented areas, the large flatter areas are fine.

I have tried Peel Away (7) today and it seemed fairly successful on the larger areas although I think I may need some kind of tool to get into the fine detailed areas to remove the paint (and Peel Away). Does anyone have any suggestions or done this task themselves please? I only have three posts like this to do, fortunately, as the spindles were never painted.

Many thanks in advance for any advice

 

[Gothichome]

Heat gun, various scrapers both curved and flat, and most of all patience

 

[Sophie4]

Thank you

 

[fernicarry]

Peel Away (7)

Be careful of using poultice strippers if you intend staining as they can alter the colour of the wood and/or leave tide marks. Peel Away 7 says its non-caustic so that's something in its favour but it will be water based and it will probably need to be rinsed off so thats an awful lot of water that the wood will be exposed to.

Having had some near death experiences with paint removers on joinery I much prefer to take the same approach as @Gothichome, scrapers and persistence. Just be really careful on those round posts as you will be meeting the grain at all different angles.