What paint stripper would you recommend?

[PestoPasghetti]

I've taken on a second hand play kitchen that's coated in navy paint - I want to strip it all off. I'm struggling to find a paint stripper that doesn't have heaps of poor reviews! Can anyone recommend one? Thanks!

I used kling strip and it was very good with removing oil based paint from a metal fireplace. It was messy though!

I have used Nitromors for years on paint and varnish. A bit smelly but it doesn't linger. They are all messy and quite expensive.
Follow the instructions about timing, use a sharp scraper. I am currently working on some 1970 varnish it is taking forever!

Do you have a heat gun?

Thanks for the replies. No, I don't have a heat gun - never done any sort of DIY or creative project before! I don't know what sort of paint it is - would a heat gun definitely be safe?

With a toy kitchen I'd be wary it's made of plywood. Not sure how that does with paint strippers or heat guns.

Do you plan to paint it again? If that's the case maybe just giving it a good sanding before you repaint?

Oh I totally missed it was a toy kitchen! I'd just sand and repaint. I've painted lots of wooden toys this way, and it's good enough!

Nitromors is not much good anymore IMO since they removed one the chemicals.

Perhaps they can put it back now we've left the EU. Could be the biggest benefit of Brexit to date!

For a toy kitchen I would sand it with an electric sander BUT depending on the age of the kitchen it make sure that the paint does not contains lead (easier said than done) which is very dangerous to inhale. In any event wear a proper face.

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles raises a valid point about lead. But the toy would have to be fairly old for that to be of concern, pre-1960s? If in doubt, you can buy lead test sticks on Amazon

Sorry, probably more like pre-1990s rather than 1960s 🤐

Nitromors is definitely not as good as it used to be, and even when it was good, it was nasty stuff to use, and still is. There are 'eco-friendly' gel alternatives which are just as effective and safer ( though always stick to the instructions to the letter, BTW) but last time I tried to get some they were out of stock all over the place, only available in trade quantities which is more than you'd want, but maybe things have eased a bit by now.

If you can do it outside, a heat gun may work, if you're happy to use one. Try a test on anon-visible section to se if it will do the job. Avoids all those nasty chemicals, and is much cheaper. I've just stripped an old panelled door that way, finishing off with an 'orbital' sander for the flat bits and then a 'detail' sander for the fiddly bits. Hand sanding would do, it's just a lot slower. You'd still have to sand if you stripped it chemically (and do leave the wood to dry first).
If you intend to repaint, you may not need to do quite as much sanding as if you are going to wax or oil or varnish.