We won't be seeing 70 degrees here in Chicago until next April, and I can't wait that long to use a gel stripper! :)
The 3M stripper is pretty mild, but I can use it indoors and that's a big plus right now, so I'll just have to do another coat. I've discovered that it works really well on latex enamel and whatever else was on this drum, but not as well on the relatively non-porous lacquer that was the second layer (from the top) on my drum. But I think another application should finish it off. And I'm willing to trade a little more elbow grease for a safer and more convenient stripper.
Even though I now know the original color scheme, I don't intend to replicate it. I'm going to wrap it in silver sparkle to match my Club Dates. I'm stripping it mainly to make sure I'm not gluing the wrap to an unstable surface (which was chipping badly already), and to try as much as possible to avoid increasing the diameter of the drum and creating problems with heads fitting.
Scott