I want to prep my tank and fenders for paint but the kid before me used spray paint. Should I take it down to bare metal and start from scratch or should I sand till smooth and start from there?

 

You probably mean rattle-can paint. Take it to bare metal.

 

Strip it. Take the extra time. Its not worth the hassle when it starts to lift the good stuff.

 

Defiantly strip it , 99% of the time real paint will cause rattle can to wrinkle right up

 

No brainer....don't paint over that....strip it down....

 

I would strip it if you can, but you dont have too. I painted a car with actual paint over spray paint. No issues whatsoever. Just need to sand the rattle can very well. Smoother the better. Make sure there is no rough parts. Some parts may go to bare metal but you dont have to take it to bare metal.

Sanding is the most important part. If you sand it well and smooth It will bite fine.

 

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it all. I think I might go down to bare metal with aircraft stripper, sand then apply primer. I need to talk to an autobody shop to see the options of paint. Take care

 

Strip it, but not to the bare metal unless the rattlecan is bare metal as well. Likely, the kid just scuffed it up and is riding over the factory paint. Save yourself a lot of prep, time, money, and prevent metal contamination by taking it down to the factory finish. Only pull it down to the bare metal if you have to.

But definitely take the tink-tink can off. As said before, 99% of paint is prep.
Reference- I am an ASE (body) Master Certified technician that customizes in paints and custom paints... it's what I do.