How to safely remove/undo touch up paint

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Matsui

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I have an obsidian black Mercedes E-350. I bought touch up paint with brush + clear coat from the dealer and applied it to a hair line scratch and couple of chips on doors and the results did not come out good at all. The touch up paint is uneven, and lumped and sticking out and it is looking worse than how it was before. How can i undo this? On the internet people are saying to use finger nail or toothpick, or paint thinner to remove it - but I wanted to find out what is the safest and easiest method to remove the touch up paint. I'd be happy to get back to how it was before I applied the touch up and live with the minor scratches. I'm inclined to using paint thinner since it seems like the easiest route, but is it safe and will it not ruin the factory paint?
 
Lacquer thinner should take it right off. If the car is recent, it will be clear coated and lacquer thinner will not be removing clearcoat.

So what you need to do it put some on a cloth or microfiber towel and wipe the touch up paint. Once your are done rinse with water to remove any remaining solvent on the paint.

Afterwards you can re-apply the touch up paint if you want. Simply don't use the brush that comes with the touch up paint, it always does a terrible job. Check youtube videos to learn how to apply touch up paint correctly.
 
Thank you so much for a quick response! I will get the lacquer thinner tonight (Home Depot?) and try it tomorrow.
I have been loosing my sleep over this, so glad there is a solution to fix it.
 
Forgot one thing. I also used clear coat with the brush over the touch up paint. Will it be a problem to remove it with the lacquer thinner?
 
I have the same concern for my bumper but the touch-up paint is better than without touch-up paint. This is the bumper so it is not that critical. I was going to hit it with 1000/2000/3000 sand paper to try to level it and then polish it and see how it looks.
 
The clearcoat in that touch up paint is a 1K clear (lacquer) so it should get removed as well without any issue. The clearcoat on your car is a different product althogether, it's an Urethane plastic base, not a lacquer. If you had applied 2K clear on top of the touch up, then you would not be able to remove it this way. 2K clear has a hardener you must mix into in before applying, it's never in touch up kits.
 
Matsui said:
I'd be happy to get back to how it was before I applied the touch up and live with the minor scratches.
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When you find out how easy it is to remove, you may be inclined to give it another go. I also am rarely happy, but there are a lot of tools to try, the little fuzzy applicators, toothpicks, artist brushes, squeegees, and of course, Dr. Colorchip.
 
You guys are awesome :dblthumb2:
The lacquer thinner worked like magic and got all of the touch up paint off without impacting the original paint. Thank you so much for your help
 
What is a good lacquer thinner you guys recommend and where to purchase? I just need a small amount to remove a bad touch up spot on my Mercedes using the OEM touchup paint, and lacquer clear coat that came with the touch up kit.

Many thanks.
 
I doubt there are differences between brands when it comes to solvants like Lacquer Thinner or Acetone. Just buy what ever is availble at the closest hardware store. Here in Canada you can usually get it in 32 ounces bottles or metal cans. It should not be expensive either, probably less than 10$. You will only be using a few drops, so unless you have other projects, buy the smallest size container you can find.

As to where it is sold, depends where you live but all hardware store should have it, Wal-Mart, big box stores likes Lowes and home depot.... basically anywhere that sell either paint, building material, hardwares, etc. Should be very easy to find.

Just a note, in the same spot they sell Lacquer Thinner, they will very likelly have all the other solvents likes Acetone, Paint Thinner, Turpentine, Denatured alcohol and all of that... just don't buy Paint Thinner, it's not the same thing and may not work on touch up paint.
 
Calendyr said:
I doubt there are differences between brands when it comes to solvants like Lacquer Thinner or Acetone. Just buy what ever is availble at the closest hardware store. Here in Canada you can usually get it in 32 ounces bottles or metal cans. It should not be expensive either, probably less than 10$. You will only be using a few drops, so unless you have other projects, buy the smallest size container you can find.

As to where it is sold, depends where you live but all hardware store should have it, Wal-Mart, big box stores likes Lowes and home depot.... basically anywhere that sell either paint, building material, hardwares, etc. Should be very easy to find.

Just a note, in the same spot they sell Lacquer Thinner, they will very likelly have all the other solvents likes Acetone, Paint Thinner, Turpentine, Denatured alcohol and all of that... just don't buy Paint Thinner, it's not the same thing and may not work on touch up paint.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for your help and expertise sir. I just ordered some from Amazon, hope it works.
 
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