rim painting

I am in the middle of painting my steel rims. I have about 3 coats of duplicolor wheel paint (black) on them already. I primed them with 2-3 coats.
I must have hit one of them, because when I went to apply another coat, I noticed a scratch in one of them, all the way down to the primer.
I have been doing light coats, and waiting a couple of hours in between.
Should I finish with some sort of protective coat??
Thanks
Barry

 

Paint being dry, is different than actual cure time of paint.
I'd prime. Let cure. Then paint top coat let cure.. then cleat coat. Let cure..
Then install.

 

any suggestions on clear coat

 

I put 3 coats of paint, should I put more??
and what type of clear coat should I apply and when (after paint)

 

I painted some oem alloy wheels.
Did a few coats each. Primer, color, clear.
Used all Duplicolor but it was their regular auto paint, not the wheel paint.
I let it sit for a week to cure before mounting.
They will scratch and chip no matter what. But it's been 2 years and it isn't bad enough that they need redone.

 

just follow directions on your paint regarding prep & application.

 

Plasti-Dip!

 

I'm not sure why the paint keeps getting scratches.. my plastidipped wheels have two winters on them so far with zero flaws..
An Paint is tougher than plastidip sooo...

 

3rd year on mine.
If you don't like, peel and repaint.

 

my chips are from impact gun at tire shop, alignment machine, gravel roads, and who knows what else.

 

I painted my wheels with wheel paint I used 5 coats and haven't had a single problem with the paint chipping

 

How long should I wait after final paint coat to clear the rims??

 

I waited about 2 1/2 hours then put a clear coat and left it all night to dry