Why did my spray paint do this?

It went on fine with the first can, 3 coats of Rust Oleum gloss black.

Then the second can, first coat did this crackly look...

Why did this do this?

It was nice and smooth from the first can, except for a run or two, but the second can went on looking like cracked glass...

 

Better picture

It is hard to get a decent picture of this in the garage. Here is a better one with different lighting...

 

How long in-between the last coat of the first can and the first coat of the second can? There is a fuzzy area where if you let the paint set too long, then apply another coat, it will lift the underlying coats, as yours did. I always recoat within 10 minutes or wait over 24 hours.

 

try heating the can in hot water for a couple minutes..

 

I did about 15 minute gaps the first few coats, then maybe an hour before this one.

So, it probably isn't the can at issue, but the time between the coats?

Looks like wetsanding time...

 

waited to long between coats.i do the same as mavaholic.

 

Yup,

Too long a wait between coat. Rustoleum is good paint, but it has a very long cure time compared to some other brands. I don't have any here, so check the label. I am not sure if 24 hours is enough cure time if you don't recoat within minutes. I seem to remember several days ...

 

Yup .. .waited too long ... I would give Rustoleum 3 to 5 days before recoating ...

 

Damn...easy job just turned a bit more difficult and time consuming...

 

I guess the next question is "how long does rust oleum have to cure before I can wet sand it?"

 

all your jobs turn hard just kidding

 

What was under the paint? other old paint? What is the paint your using? is it Lacquer based? Sometimes lacquer based paint will attack plastics and other spray paints.

 

That is "almost" true. My mechanical jobs turn out OK, but I absolutely SUCK at cosmetic stuff. That is why my car is so ugly, but runs so well.

I cannot touch paint, bondo, or any tools for making the car prettier without making a mess of it, and will just wait until I can afford to hire those jobs out before I get them done. I can accept my limitations and body/paint is my limit...

The paint is Rust Oleum gloss black painted over the pitted and scratched chrome. Much of the chrome is gone and is down to the copper colored material. The first few layers went on fine and smooth, but I apparently waited too long for this last layer...

 

I was thinking of stripping it all down and starting over...

I figured it would be too much hassle to try to wet-sand it.