craftgrrl | computers and spraypaint. HELP! :( (Reply)

Okay, so the DIY project my bf and I have been working on -- a new computer for me -- has not been so great as of now.

We have successfully bought a case and ordered quite a bit of parts (we still need almost $100 for all the other good stuff -- hard drives, disk drives, keyboard, etc.). We have also successfully dremelled a nice rectangle in the left side to glue the window on.

Then we bought the paint. We bought spraypaint primer, burgundy spraypaint color, and krylon matte finish. We applied primer, and it turned out good. We let it dry for a day or so since we didn't want to inhale anymore fumes and I got sick for a day or so (not because of the paint though; just felt ill). Then we painted the first coat of spray paint and knew we'd need another coat or two because it turned out quite dark because of the gray primer.

This is where the problems started (or as my bf would say, the craziness ensued). Newspaper stuck to parts of the paint, so we had to rub those off and then rubbed paint off by accident. We applied a second coat, let it dry... a bug landed on our paint, and we brushed it off and smudged paint. AHH. Dust or something got onto the paint as it was drying, but luckily, as the paint was nearly dry, and we were able to get most of it off. Little tiny bumps here and there, but no big deal.

We applied more paint to parts we messed up. On one of the panels, our fingerprints really pushed themselves in there, even though we had let the panels out to dry for hours, and everything else was completely dry. More paint. Frustration, frustration.

Then we thought we were done. We applied the matte finish (since gloss = ew, too shiny). So far, so good. Panels looked great. Then today, the bf calls me and tells me that the finish did some "weird clumpy thing" and that is as best as he can describe it. Basically, most of the panels have made it okay, but the front and window panels that everyone will see mainly are pretty much fucked up. Perhaps it was too cold and the finish couldn't handle it or something.

And we're broke, after spending on parts and paint. Damn, we are pissed. Before we go and splurge whatever money we can gather for this project on the paint and whatnot (and sandpaper, since we're going to have to fix up some areas.. blah).. do you girls (and the couple of guys on here) have any suggestions? I haven't seen the "weird clumpiness" that has happened to it, but I'm thinking -- that isn't good. Any and all help is greatly appreciated..