I used a spray on stripper



scrap it off with a plastic putty knife and sanded it.



worked like hell to get the gunk out of the checkering.



I almost dropped my stain that is all this mass. I used cherry stain on the stock. (and that old grill) I used foam brushes a small to lay down a coat, and a larger one to even it out. this was just the first coat you see in the pic.