striping semi solid cabot

What brand is the semi-solid stain? Was it oil based or water based?

it is an acrylic water base stain. I ordered some restore a deck striper, results not much better. any suggestions?

You will need to sand. Water based acrylics are the most difficult type to remove. Even more so when a semi-solid. Basically you are trying to remove a paint and strippers will not remove paints.

I have an IPE deck that has been stained several times with Cabot clear semi-solid oil stain. This time I had it professionally stripped and stained but it looks terrible with blotchy areas. The guy said that there is residual stain that he can't remove. He said that I will need to let "nature" take care of it and with time the residual product will go away. Is this right? Is there a product out there that will take care of this?

It will not go away naturally but it will be easier to s rip off the rest after naturally weathering for a few months. Wait until Fall and use the Restore A Deck Stain stripper to remove. Use their brightener when done.