[Arran]

So much for the U.S being the land of the free I guess, they still sell the stuff here. One possible substitute may be automotive paint remover, another maybe to make a mix of acetone, keytone, and xylene, or try them separately. Keytone is sold as epoxy paint thinner. Use gloves with any of them.
I don't recommend trying lye on anything approaching fine furmiture, for one thing it involves mixing with water and water will loosen a lot of old fashioned animal based glues.
Regards
Arran

P.S I can't find anything about methylene chloride paint remover being banned, in fact Home Depot has that very stuff listed on their U.S site under the Klean Strip brand.