Newbie electroless surface prep questions

[southpawcom]

I have some brass and copper cabinet hardware parts (pulls and hinges) that I want to plate using electroless nickel. They have paint and cabinet shellac dripped on them. What would be the quickest, easiest, and cheapest way to remove the gunk and prepare them for the electroless plating solution? (I'm hoping you will say something like "soak them in ________ overnight and they will be good to go." )

[mcaswell]

Have you tried soaking them in regular paint stripper?