Got the dining table all stripped and sanded down! What a job.  My 10 year old daughter was right there with the liquid stripper and scraper peeling off what looked like burnt skin.  That is what made it cool. Whatever worked! It looks beautiful! Going to stain the top a walnut this weekend and paint the base off-white then distress!
Cheap update so far! Under $100 for all the paint and supplies.  I will have enough left over to refinish the vintage dresser I found on craigslist!