when using greaseless from what i learned .. you don't go in to the emery til you are done with the cutting .. the emery dose take the cutting down to a workable surface ... but it kind of defeats the greaseless ... i did a intake with just emery and it took it down dut after the greaseless and some wetsanding to even it out it looks great ..........
as for stripper ... easy off oven cleaner works just as good