clear coat help..

i need some help guys,, i painted a rear panel i had laying around just for fun, it looks pretty good imo, but i have noticed that after a week the clear coat still fresh..if i touch with the nail or something it gets scratched.. i tried to scratched it with my nail and the clear coat comes of.. so i dont know if i used the wrong stuff or something, its a rustoleum "crystal clear enamel" i noticed they have another one called "gloss protective enamel" im i using the wrong clear? when i went to buy it at the auto parts thats what they gave me!
i sanded everything, primer, painted black, waited 20-30 mins for clear coat 2-3, did i miss any step?
i dont wanna use duplicolor bc lamost everyone on the internet says it turns yellow after few days....

reason i wanna learn is bc i wanna paint my rims gloss black... so i never done this before.. thanks for the help!

I have used dupli-color acrylic enamel and it works great. It hasn't yellowed at all but I wax the stuff I used it on for extra protection. I painted my vents on my fenders with it plus my interior trim pieces. Do you sand in between coats unless it looks fine? I wait at least an hour in between coats just to be sure.

Thanks for the replie.
I did the coats every 15-20 min.
Maybe that was the problem. But still it's a week After.
I also did the wet sanding and buff two days later. It looks good but still feels fresh.
Which clear coat you guys recommend for the wheels?

Are you using stuff in a rattle can?

I assume you are, that stuff doesn't have the hardeners in it that your better quality mixed paints that you shoot from a gun will.

If you are painting anything that is going to be in the weather at all, harsh elements, sunshine etc....I wouldn't use a rattle can.

To do it right you'll need to hit a paint store, buy the paint and clear along with your hardeners and reducers, mix it and shoot it from a gun. You'll get a better quality finish that will last for years and years.

^^

I have to agree on that.


When I did my FRC's I wish now I went to a painter and have them hit it with the good stuff.


I did a good job via rattle can but it took a week for the clear to harden enough before I could install them on the car again.

Rustoleum rattle can paints take forever to dry. Just how they are.

I use the stuff near the engine and automotive paints, (can't remember the name off hand) it's like 8-12 bucks a can.

But it's designed for automotive use, and not a rustoleum product.

I stopped painting anything with crap-o-leum 20+ years ago because I just don't like their products and waiting for their paints to dry.

Also rustoleum paints got the name "rust-o-leum" because it contains rust inhiditors(sp) and generally does'nt like to be mixed with non-rustoleum paints.