Get some Home Formby’s paint stripper, about $12 at Lowes’.
You apply it with a brush, let it sit for an hour or so, then use a spatula/paint scraper to scrape the residue off the wood, being careful not to gouge the wood in the process.
Don’t be impatient! let the stuff do its job!
If there is any molding or fancy wood carving with paint, a dental type pick may be necessary to get at the paint in the crevices.
If the wood is pine or other soft wood, then it won’t have a ‘grain’ worth saving and you should just paint the wood after a light sanding...............
i think it’s pretty soft, because like i said, when xshub tried to peel the paint after leaving the stuff on, he gouged a bit and he wasn’t pressing hard at all. so i’m thinking light sanding, so it will still look white but i can see the grain through it? is that light enough? should i use a primer just to be safe, after sanding?