[acidrain]

Most of the chemicals used for anodizing are dangerous, and safety measures should always be used. Stripper is no exception.
As for attacking the aluminum, here is what I do...
Clean the parts first in either lacquer thinner, or strong detergent.
Strip at no more than 70F.
Watch the parts closely, and "help" the stripper by occasionally scrubbing with a toothbrush or other means. It usually take no more than a few minutes to strip a part.
Once the parts are stripped, immediately pull them and rinse. Go straight to the de-smut step.
If you are leaving the parts in for a long time because there are stubborn areas, it's because the parts were not cleaned first (oil, grease, paint, etc. will inhibit the stripper).