I don't have an airbrush but I am thinking of getting one. But I have some questions first. Where do I get one? What kind of color do I use?...Gel Paste or something else? How expensive are they? How big are they and how much space will it take up? If you have one do you like it? ......And anything else I need to know. THANKS!!

I've been working on that one also, from what I have come up with, Kopykake makes two types, Airmaster & KromaJet. Airmaster is more expensive and I think is better, can't remember the reasons LOL!!
There is specific airbrush paint also, www.kopykake.com will give you some info, or there are lots of forums discussing this, try searching it.
Good Luck, Lorene

Would this work......if you took a can of edible spray and then in the paint seciton at walmart they have these tips that go on to ends of spray can that look like a really small straw. I wonder if it would work on an edilbe spray can to give a more refined line??

I just resently bought a airgun(Kroma-Jet by Kopykake). I love it! I first practiced on a coloring book before a ever tried it on a cake. I'm so lucky to have a cake supply store in our town. I know you can order from them(cakestuff). They sell Americolor colors made for airguns, I was told if you use something not made for airguns that it could clog it up. The colors are $1.89 for .75 oz. and the gun was $150.00. Hope this helps!

my mom is giving me an airmaster.........yes giving it to me woohooo...she didn't even know what she had...just said hey I have these airbrush thingies you want em? that was months and months ago and I asked her a little while ago...what brand is the compressor so I can find out what kind of nozzle to get (this one was used to paint fingernails and I wanted everything new and sterile) and she reads offf....air master.....I'm like huh??? are you serious??? woooohoooo....so glad you started this thread i'm gonna keep watch over it and see what everyone comes up with! I have yet to use the airbrush its in Ohio I'm in NJ but I'm moving there really soon and can't wait to play around with it.....I love new cake toys lol

I went through this back in March. Didn't know what to get and they can be quite expensive. I ended up watching ebay for about two months and got an idea of what was out there. I bought one made by Badger. It is a simple model, has a 4 x 4" motor that sits right on the counter, bought airbrush spray from kopykake and have been in love ever since. I didn't know how much I would use it, but now I use it on almost every cake! I love to do luster, pearl and super pearl dust with it too. I even learned on CC that using a little bit of windex to clean it out is just as good (and a ton cheaper) than the airbrush cleaner solution they sell. I promise you, you will LOVE it. I ended up paying less than $100 for mine and have never had a problem at all. Can't think of anything else...

Good luck!
-Michelle

Msauer---- I would love to know what model you have. I am looking for an airbrus also.

For everyone else that has an airbrush, what size of compressor do you need? What PSI should I be looking for?

If there is anywhere I can get more information about airbrushing equipment, please let me know.

Thanks,
Cecilia

Mine is a Badger 100 GB. I didn't find it on badger's website (www.badgerairbrush.com), but it looks almost identical to the 100G- and the description seems to be the same as well.

Let me know if I can help any more.

This is what it has for product description on their site:

The Model 100G dual action, internal mix airbrush is designed for detailing. It features a permanent, top-mounted 1/16 oz. color cup angled to allow work on horizontal surfaces. The 100G offers precision performance for a soft spray pattern and tight line detail. Perfect for fine artists, illustrators, and cake decorators. (Available as Fine and/or Medium). Sprays properly reduced acrylics and pre-reduced materials such as inks, dyes, watercolors, gouaches and all of Badger airbrush ready paints

I have an airmaster by kopykake, it has an adjustable airflow, is ready to use right out of the box. I prefer the americolor airbrush color products designed specifically for airbrushing because I don't want to ruin my airbrush by trying to mix colors to the right consistancy for the airgun (it's just easier... I'm lazy I guess). I love the airmaster. You can google the words "airmaster kopykake" and do some price comparisons at the various websites, I believe I got mine at kitchencraft.com. Had it about a year now.

So do I understand this correctly, the best airbush to buy is one that is dual action. The compressor just depends the brand you want to buy.

Is that correct? I dont want to spend a lot of money since I dont do a lot of cakes.

Thanks,
Cecilia

From what I understand (anyone please correct me if I'm wrong), a dual action is nicer because it gives you more control when you are painting- the further back you pull on the trigger, the more air you push through which results in more paint. You can also reverse that process and slow up the amount of paint that is beind dispensed while you are still painting by reducing pressure on the trigger.

However, the single action is air and paint at the same time at a consistant level. To control the amount of paint being distributed you have to adjust a nozzle on top. So, it is either off or on...no in between which is not as helpful when you are doing shading and detail work. This one seems like it would take a lot of adjusting and testing to get the right amount of paint flow- which ultimately would result in wasting a lot of paint.

msauer - Thank you for such an understandable definition of dual-action vs single action. That's one that would have tripped me up!

I just got the kroma jet last week and LOVE IT! Take a look at my pumpkin cake if you need convincing, first time I used it with no practicing before!

I recently purchased an AirMaster from a grocery store that had gone out of business. Ther were liquidating everything. I purchased the compressor, hose, and two actual air guns with the triggers, along with a heavy duty decorating turn table (runs $70+ new). I paid $30 for BOTH!! I was so giddy! The gals in my office (the day job) were laughing at me because I was soooo excited about my purchase. Oh - I had worked for this grocery store about 7 years ago as their bakery manager and cake decorator, so I knew I was getting a nice turntable and air brush! YAY! I lucked out! I really wish I had more time to go through the bakery to pick up some other things, but I was just on a lunch break and the place was a zoo.

I did have a point though, another thing you can use to clean airbrush equiqment is white vinegar and water. That's all I ever used. It didn't clog it. I would NEVER us anything in it except airbrush colors made specifically for an airbrush. Nothing made me angrier than walking into work to find out that someone had wanted a color sprayed on a cake while I was gone, and another employee would use gel in the gun. It took me forever to clean it so it worked properly!

OK - now back to your regularly scheduled program!

Thanks for sending this out. I was looking at getting one too. Crazy question so forgive me--- can you also use the airbrush on buttercream versus fondant? I know people use it on fondant al the time, but how does it work on buttercre

I have only ever used it on buttercream. I have just recently started dabbling in fondant...that's a whole other "situation"! LOL!!

Works like a charm!!!! No more breaking your arm to color all of that red!!! Ha Ha Ha!!! I have airbrushed a few cakes now. One in particular was my "Man with the Yellow Hat" and I also airbrushed with luster dust on my Hexagon Princess Cake.

I think the big thing to be careful of (just like with fondant) is getting too much in one spot at one time. I made several coats on the hat because I learned a valuable lesses (getting 2-3 running streaks on the hexagon, but I used a papertowel quick to soak up the extra). The hat worked out great because I was worried about trying to get the gumpaste rim and bc all the same color yellow when I came up with the design. It ended up matching perfectly with the airbrush!!!!

The CupKake Train is also airbrushed on BC, but it just isn't one of my better cakes- so don't look at that one!

msauer and all
thanks!! BTW, love that yellow hat!!! Ok-- I'm putting this on my Christmas list!!