Removing freshly applied clearcoat
 

Used some touch up clear coat & didn’t come out like I wanted. It is only a small section of clear coat that was applied. The texture & appearance didn’t come out like I had hoped. What are the best steps to remove it? Can I use a heat gun? Acetone? Lacquer thinner? I just want the new clear coat removed.

https://touchupdirect.com/products/clearcoat/

It’s not reversible. It is removable but those are two different things.

Sanding or stripping chemicals are your two options. I’d stay away from chemicals as they’re indiscriminate and hard to control.

Sanding with high grits will remove the clear coat but also affect any surrounding or underlying layers. Unfortunately that is what it is.

If you’re careful you can sand the clear off and then polish the area to match the rest of the car.

Or go pay someone to do it. A body shop will gladly take a few hundred of your dollars to do the above.

Picture?
Did you put a hardener in the clear coat?

Wet sand with 3M trizact 3000, then polish with compound.

Surely wait for that clear coat to cure before sanding and that depends on how heavy the coat(s) was sprayed. Using rattle can process can be tricky, much probably is just a “frosting” affect from edges drying out faster than the main area. Whichever removal method, do it slowly and evenly and check the results each time so you don’t overwork and cut into the undercoat. Last thing you want is one area being so obviously polished out than the rest of the car panels.

My dealings had some small touched up areas of sloppy clear coat applications that had an orange peel effect and an overspray so bad that the masked tape line was visible. How this let a body shop is beyond comprehension.
I picked up some Griots Complete Compound (a least-aggressive compound) and used my 10”random orbital, went over the areas and was surprised by the results with minimal effort with this mild compound. I wished I took pictures as this method worked wonders in quick order, afterwards a polish and wax really blending the area well.

It turned too old outside (here) now to try a complete DYI “paint correction” with a more aggressive compound such as Griots Boss Fast and Boss Correcting creme that are designed for more severe defects, I intend to use one of these two for the spring cleaning with a 6” random orbital.
Plenty of Griots How-To and advice on the YouTube.

I would definitely use the acetone while it is still fresh. Very sparingly and very carefully as you will find out if you are sloppy.

Yep, this.

I'd expect acetone or any other solvent will be indiscriminate in what it removes.

I’m planning to do a 1000, 2000, 3000 grit wet sanding process & finish it off with a swirl removing orbital polish. I’ll just need to tape off surrounding areas to be safe. After extensive research. Lacquer thinner is just too risky.

Acetone will melt whatever paint is under your clear

Yup
You Fckd up.

Whatever you use to remove the clear is going to affect the paint underneath.

All the aforementioned methods will remove the clear. Hopefully you won't be removing the paint with it.

Cut your losses and take it to a body shop. Don't make it worse

Yup
You Fckd up.

Whatever you use to remove the clear is going to affect the paint underneath.

All the aforementioned methods will remove the clear. Hopefully you won't be removing the paint with it.

Cut your losses and take it to a body shop. Don't make it worse

You don’t wet sand a car and then use swirl remover.

I have Meguiars ultra polish which is a 4 cut & followed up with Meguiars fine swirl polish which is a 3 cut. Is there a better suggestion?

Well I got all worked up for nothing. The clear coat literally came off with my fingernail. So it’s back to its original state & now I don’t have to keep any of the items I bought for correction lol. Thanks for all the feedback everyone.