Stripping, sanding and waxing old church chairs - HELP!

[nicecupofteaplease]

I wasn't quite sure where to put this, so hoping the Good Housekeeping ladies can help.

I have some old church chairs which have a sort of yellowy tinged what looks like varnish on them. I have a feeling stripping them is going to be harder than I thought and wondered if anyone had done something similar and could give me a few pointers. The best guide I have found suggests trying different types of remover to establish what the treatment on the chair is - lacquer, shellac or varnish. I'd rather not buy three different types of stripper, and was wondering if anyone could help. How are church chairs usually treated, and is there a simpler way of finding out what treatment mine have. I'd dumbly assumed it was just going to be varnish which I'd sand off. Hadn't bargained for pre-treatment to loosen the finish etc.

I hope someone can help!

The best thing I have found for stripping "finished" furniture is Nitromors. It will get virtually anything off. It is pretty strong stuff though, so you would be best working outside, or in a very well ventilated space.

www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_790109_langId_-1_categoryId_165495

It may be worth finding someone who can "dip" them for you then you can do all the fancy stuff once paint is all off.

I tried to do stuff myself once, but by the time I had paid for all the stuff to get the crap paint off, it would have been cheaper to get someone to do it.

should have said getting all the paint or varnish finishes off

the varnishes can be just a nightmare as paint