A drum? What's the drum say? Is it labeled at all? Who made it? How big (AWG equivalent, cross sectional equivalent, number of/bundles of strands)?
If the enamel is any kind of "Sold-ease" type (usually polyester base), it can simply be soldered through. This is a little awkward by hand with an iron, but can be done. Use lots of solder, extra rosin, high temperature (350-450C) and take your time. The enamel will turn to a bubbly, acrid mess, partly on its own and partly dissolved by the excess flux.
It takes me a few minutes to do one end of 10 AWG equivalent material (which has red enamel, I think a 140C Sold-ease variety?). A temperature controlled iron will do a fine job.
If it's not a solderable type (enamel (in the true sense of the word -- vintage stock only?), or any of the high temperature polyimide or etc. types), you're SOL and need to do it the hard way.
Chemical strippers include methylene chloride (the active ingredient in any quality stripper) and other nasties, and agents (usually molten salts) to burn off the layer. NaOH, as mentioned, can be used; in combination with potassium nitrate (KNO3, yeah, the stuff used in gunpowder) might be handy, too. These can be melted in a stainless steel spoon over a flame. Definitely use eye protection (NaOH will murder eyes on contact*), and clean up carefully afterwards (NaOH will absorb moisture from the air to form a solution, spontaneously, so don't leave it out in the open; store it dry, or dissolve and wash it away).
*On that ever-so-long list of chemical hazards to beware of (during those moments before you put on your safety goggles): apparently, strong mineral acids (sulfuric, nitric, etc.) aren't very fatal to the eyes. Dangerous, yes; hurts, you damn well believe it; but amazingly, not damning. Apparently, the body has some innate capability to tolerate or neutralize acids. Strong base, though, say goodbye to proteins and cell walls, that stuff just toasts everything.
That's why NaOH is used to sanitize anything that needs to be damn well sanitized (like medical instruments and breweries), and why nothing grows in alkaline lakes (yet there are endless cases of bacteria, and sometimes higher life forms too, growing in acid mine drainage and similar environments!).
Tim