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Airbrushing nightmare!!!

post #1 of 19
2/14/12 at 5:37pm
Thread Starter 
I dont know what Im doing wrong but every time I airbrush one of my cakes I make an awful mess.....its EVERYWHERE!! Please any advice or insight on what am I doing wrong and what I should do to get it right...

Thank you

Heidi
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post #2 of 19
2/14/12 at 5:54pm
You aren't doing anything wrong. Airbrushing gets food color EVERYWHERE. The only way to contain it is to have and enclosed airbrush box. I've heard of people hanging up shower curtains and still having mist escape.

I'd also advise a paint mask that filters vapors, or you'll have technicolor lungs, too.

If you can't have an airbrush box, line your surfaces with paper, and if you can, sit your cake inside a large cardboard box with a side cut out, and rotate the cake inside the box (you can put it on a turntable in there, too). Its about the best you can do.
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post #3 of 19
2/14/12 at 6:18pm
Prettycupcake I have the same problem, I airbrush in my kitchen with my stove fan on to try and get the mist of color to go up the fan rather than around the kitchen but never works.
I find that after Ive airbrushed im walking in food color and getting it everywhere! I swear I'm still finding color days later from areas not even in the kitchen. Ive heard of people setting up airbrush booths, I'd like to give that a try. Ive tried the shower curtain trick and that honestly didn't help me much.
I hope someone here has an answer for you, I would love to see it icon_smile.gif
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post #4 of 19
2/14/12 at 6:38pm
Earlene posted instructions on building an inexpensive airbrush booth. You can also buy more expensive ones from www.cakesafe.com
Visit me at www.keeponcaking.com for tutorials and other cake stuff.
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post #5 of 19
2/14/12 at 7:03pm
one thing ladies if you have a hot air furnace, one that blows hot air, don't use the air brush f
when the furnace is on. Using the fan on your stove will just pull t he mist all around the kitchen, Not what you want. Get your self some pvc pipe from your local hardware, and make an air brush enclosure, not really hard.
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post #6 of 19
2/14/12 at 7:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sillywabbitz

Earlene posted instructions on building an inexpensive airbrush booth. You can also buy more expensive ones from www.cakesafe.com



Seems like a cool idea but pricey icon_sad.gif
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post #7 of 19
2/14/12 at 7:21pm
Here are Earlene's instructions
http://www.earlenescakes.com/AirbrushCabInst.html

And there are tons of DIY airbrush booths on YouTube but most vent outside.
Visit me at www.keeponcaking.com for tutorials and other cake stuff.
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post #8 of 19
2/14/12 at 7:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sillywabbitz

Here are Earlene's instructions
http://www.earlenescakes.com/AirbrushCabInst.html

And there are tons of DIY airbrush booths on YouTube but most vent outside.



THANK YOU!!!!!!!
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post #9 of 19
2/14/12 at 7:27pm
sillywabbitz thanks so much!
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post #10 of 19
2/14/12 at 7:40pm
Now we all have to make another run to Home Depot for "cake supplies"
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post #11 of 19
2/14/12 at 10:47pm
Overspray is a problem.... but there are things to do to minimize it.

What are you airbrushing with? What is your equipment and what air pressure are you using?
Too high a PSI and you will be putting more color into the air than on the cake - plus color will be literally bouncing off of the cake.

Technique also makes a difference.
Do you spray only at the cake? Or are you airbrushing back and forth past the cake? If so, you're airbrushing air...

What is your room ventilation?
If you have only fans, you're only stirring the color into the air.
If you have circulation, the color can be pulled up into the air system and travel along the air ducts to another area.

Shilds can help... but they bounce the overspray back to you.

Best bet is a filtered fan system.

Either DIY or a pro system.... if you're doing a lot of airbrush - or large projects - it is a good investment.

Here's a video I did for Grex on the subject: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmm2PrkETe8
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post #12 of 19
2/15/12 at 7:28am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LisaBerczel

Overspray is a problem.... but there are things to do to minimize it.

What are you airbrushing with? What is your equipment and what air pressure are you using?
Too high a PSI and you will be putting more color into the air than on the cake - plus color will be literally bouncing off of the cake.

Technique also makes a difference.
Do you spray only at the cake? Or are you airbrushing back and forth past the cake? If so, you're airbrushing air...

What is your room ventilation?
If you have only fans, you're only stirring the color into the air.
If you have circulation, the color can be pulled up into the air system and travel along the air ducts to another area.

Shilds can help... but they bounce the overspray back to you.

Best bet is a filtered fan system.

Either DIY or a pro system.... if you're doing a lot of airbrush - or large projects - it is a good investment.

Here's a video I did for Grex on the subject: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmm2PrkETe8



Thank you so much for replying...I use a Mini Air Compressor Priston Type...Thats what it says on the box. Im not too sure on the pressure. I basically airbrush boards and parts of the cake...What should the pressure be on?? Thanks again for your help...I will check out your video..
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post #13 of 19
2/15/12 at 11:08am
I open a window near where I am airbrushing and point a fan outside. It helps draw the over spray out. The last time I did it without the fan I really regretted it. I am still finding blue food color in places I KNOW I have cleaned since then!
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post #14 of 19
2/15/12 at 11:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by prettycupcake


Thank you so much for replying...I use a Mini Air Compressor Piston Type...Thats what it says on the box. Im not too sure on the pressure. I basically airbrush boards and parts of the cake...What should the pressure be on?? Thanks again for your help...I will check out your video..



A basic mini compressor can have a working pressure as high as 30+ psi.

For airbrushing small details, you may only need 5-10 psi (which is why the ultra tiny entry level units are popular for beginners).

To airbrush larger projects - such as turning a 4 tier solid gold - you'll want to use a higher pressure so the color change does not take all day. I use 15-25 for such projects.

I generally use over 25psi for colored cocoa butter.

So, adjust your psi. Don't use more than is required to get the job done and you'll reduce your overspray accordingly.
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post #15 of 19
2/15/12 at 7:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LisaBerczel

Quote:
Originally Posted by prettycupcake


Thank you so much for replying...I use a Mini Air Compressor Piston Type...Thats what it says on the box. Im not too sure on the pressure. I basically airbrush boards and parts of the cake...What should the pressure be on?? Thanks again for your help...I will check out your video..



A basic mini compressor can have a working pressure as high as 30+ psi.

For airbrushing small details, you may only need 5-10 psi (which is why the ultra tiny entry level units are popular for beginners).

To airbrush larger projects - such as turning a 4 tier solid gold - you'll want to use a higher pressure so the color change does not take all day. I use 15-25 for such projects.

I generally use over 25psi for colored cocoa butter.

So, adjust your psi. Don't use more than is required to get the job done and you'll reduce your overspray accordingly.



Once again Thank you! I will def adjust my PSI...
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