Tips on spraypainting?

[Agileguy]

So DIY powder coating is out. I don't have a need for a whole powder coating rig, and I don't want to spend all of the effort required to get a good end product. I just want to make my Crybaby sexy in purple metallic.


However, I think it's time to step up my spray painting game. I've always been just okay at it. I did all right when I spray painted my pedaltrain a few weeks ago, but I want something really really good looking. So I'm going to do this right. I'm going to make a spray booth in my garage. I'm going to make sure that my limited paitence for this job doesn't get the best of me, and I'm going to do truly light coats. I'm going to sand between coats.  I'm even going to get a cheap toaster oven and bake the paint to make it more durable. I've just got a few questions. Here's what I'm using as a guide.

• Should I sand between every coat? If so, when should I bake the finish?
  
• Are there any paint brands that you can recommend as being particularly high quality without being prohibitively expensive, or is Krylon good enough? I've heard good things about Duplicolor.
  
• What would you recommend for a clear coat? I've heard using automotive grade lacquer makes for a durable clear coat, but I've also heard that your base and clear should be the same base material - ie, acrylic and acrylic, etc.
  

If you have any other general tips, I'd be happy to hear those too. I really want to do a good job on this pedal. I want it to be as close to as durable as a powder coat as possible. If I have to spend near what I would getting it professionally powder coated, so be it. This is a useful skill to have anyway, especially if I want to ever refinish a guitar.