Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Hazards of stripping veneer

I have a veneered top walnut table that has been stained with a mahogany finish. I want to change it to a pickle wash or cream color to match other furnishings. Should I strip it (how risky) or should I just paint it? It is really pretty wood and I really hate to lose the grain. What can I use to strip it without lifting the veneer?

I've used denatured alcohol and fine steel wool to remove varnish from veneer. I did not try to litghten it.

I think a little clarification in terminology is in order here. I believe jlob66 is using the term 'varnish' in a generic sense. Denatured alcohol normally won't touch a true varnish.

If the finish you're dealing with in your table was factory applied, it's probably lacquer. Lacquer thinner, denatured alcohol, or a 50:50 mix of the two (for a really stubborn finish) will probably remove the finish safely.

A two part bleach (look for it by that description regardless of brand name) will help lighten the top once it's stripped.

If the veneer is in good condition now, I doubt you'll have any 'lifting' problems.

It was an old buffet, with a scratched and worn finish. The finish wasn't a poly, I know that. Given the age of the piece (from about the '30's or 40's I would guess), what could the finish have been?