If you are here, it means you are seriously considering to step into the world of a new way of cake decoration: airbrush cake decorating. When it’s done right, it really looks stunning and leaves the people speechless. So, lets start by taking a closer look at what your need to get started, what techniques should you use and the recommended top 5 airbrush cake decorating kits.
What you need?
When taking up this challenge, you will need to purchase three basic elements:
- The Airbrush
- The Compressor
- Edible Airbrush Colors
Without them, there is no decorating. We will check them out separately, but every airbrush kit made for cake decorating consists of these components, so no worries there.
Choosing the airbrush
There are two types of airbrush guns for cake decorating: single action ones and dual action ones. Let’s separate them and see which one suits you best.
Single action airbrush gun – the easiest one to use; it is simple, operates slowly by pulling a trigger that activates the pressure that blows out the edible food color spray. Basically, everything is in the trigger, the more you pull it the more paint gets released. There is also a control knob on the gun that regulates the amount of paint applied – turning it clockwise decreases the flow, turning it counter clockwise increases the flow. The spray pattern is determined by the distance from the cake surface – the closer you are, the smaller pattern you will get and vice versa.
Dual action airbrush gun – the recommended one for more experienced cake decorators. It gives control of all the operations at once: air control, spray coverage and the volume of the released color. The air quantity is controlled by the compressor; pushing down the trigger gives you air; and pulling back the trigger gives you paint. It is ideal for bigger production, with different spay widths and color layers. The spray pattern is determined by the distance from the cake surface – the closer you are, the smaller pattern you will get and vice versa.
Internal or external?
Air-paint mix operation can be internal and external and here’s the difference:
Internal mix airbrushes produce a more even and consistent spray as they blend the pain and the air inside the airbrush tip upon releasing it; External mix airbrushes are better for small-area coverage, as air and paint are merged after they leave the tip of the airbrush and you can control the volume of the paint with the small knob on the gun.
Airbrush styles
Gravity Feed airbrush – The color is located in the small bowl on the top of the gun, by pulling the trigger it is drawn into the airflow which leads it into the needle and out through the tip. This gun needs the smallest amount of pressure to work. It operates slowly and is therefore suitable for detailed cake patterns. Nozzle ranges from 0.10mm to 0.35 mm.
Siphon Feed airbrush – The color is located under the gun which allows you to use a variety of different size color cups and bottles and change them quickly. This airbrush needs less air than the previous one. With it, efficiency and production are increased with spraying more at once. Nozzle ranges from 0.1mm to 0.5mm.
Side Feed airbrush – The color cup is located at the side of the airbrush. With this airbrush you will get a combination of gravity fed and siphon fed capabilities. The best part is the rotating cup which allows every possible angle when working. Nozzle ranges from 0.10mm to 0.35 mm.
Choosing the compressor
The most important thing about the compressor is that it can provide 15-20 PSI. This is the characteristic of every airbrush cake decorating kit, so you are safe there. In addition, every air compressor has a three-speed adjustment (low – medium – high) that controls the strength of the spray. A deluxe version of a compressor will regulate the flow of the air and cycle on and off in order to maintain a stable pressure while you work.
Check out the Airbrush Compressors buying guide.
Edible Airbrush Colors
These colors are concentrated and must be FDA-approved. They are usually made with Kosher approved ingredients. The colors must be of appropriate consistency so that they could pass through the airbrush gun without clogging. They can be of any color that you need, from the basic, to seasonal and rainbow or metallic and pearl types. You can even get pastel shades by adding opaque white to any color. Intended for cakes, pastries, sugar paste, icing, gum paste, fondant, isomalt and so on.
If you are a beginner
Don’t rush and get the “Ferrari of airbrushes”, learn the basics with a simple airbrush kit. Choose the airbrush kit that combines sufficiently powered air compressor and a single or dual action airbrush gun. The recommended one for total beginners is a single action gravity fed airbrush which will allow slower application and let you see the abilities of the equipment. After mastering this one, you can switch to gravity fed, dual action, internal mix airbrush. When you are a total professional get yourself a siphon fed airbrush and go crazy.
A few simple tips
With an airbrush gun used for decorating the options are limitless. You can use stencils, silhouettes, create lace, leaves, patters, stems, dew drops, curls, even faces. The sky is the limit.
Here are a few simple steps to follow when using airbrush for decoration:
- For protection from airbrush color overspray or mixing spills, cover the surface.
- Put some warm water in the paint cup and wash it. Clean the airbrush as well.
- To dry out the gun, spray only with air.
- Make sure the colors are FDA approved and edible.
- Ideal distance between the airbrush gun and the cake is 6 – 8 inches.
- For soft, wide lines and passes – hold the airbrush nozzle at 45° angle; For sharper, more defined lines – hold the airbrush nozzle at 90° angle.
- Spay the color and if you wish to darken it, re-spray until you achieve the wanted result.
- With a squeeze bottle of hot water clean the pipes and needle between the colors.
Top 5 Airbrush Cake Decorating Kits
There are many airbrush cake decorating kits available on the current market, so the decision isn’t an easy one. However, we have picked out the top 5 kits and hope we will make your choice a lot easier.
Pro Master Airbrush Cake Decorating Airbrush System Kit
With this kit you will get a multi-purpose high performance dual action gravity feed airbrush that is user friendly and there to do the job properly. The needle and nozzle are 0.3mm and have the ability to spray from hairline up to 1-1/2” wide patterns.
The airbrush compressor has 1/6 horsepower and the ability to deliver high air volume of 0.7 cfm and air flow of 25ltrs per minute. The unit is a single piston one and operates quietly at 59 db. When it comes to the pressure adjustments, it ranges from 0 – 59 PSI with an automatic on/off.
You will be surprised by the precise air adjustment control which is run by a pressure regulator with gauge and water trap filter. The compressor is a maintenance free oil-less one and has thermal protection so the possibility of overheating is eliminated.
The colors included in the kit are highly concentrated and have superior strength. They are made in USA and FDA approved, as well as certified Kosher. You will get the 12 brightest and the truest colors available used by cake decorators for over 50 years.
Beside cake decoration, this airbrush kit can be used for hobbies, crafts, temporary tattoos, fine art, nail art, auto graphics and many other things.
What’s in the box?
This airbrush kit includes: A Master Airbrush Model G22 Airbrush Set, Master Airbrush Air Compressor Model TC-20, Chefmaster Airbrush Food Coloring Set (12 Colors in 0.7 Fluid Ounce Bottles), an Air Hose (6 feet braided air hose with 1/8″ fittings), a compressor mounted airbrush holder (holds 2 airbrushes) and How-To-Airbrush Manual and Guide Booklet by Master Airbrush.
The Pros
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Maintenance free oil-less compressor
- Quiet operation
- Multi-purpose usage
- Gravity feed airbrush
- Precise air adjustment control
- FDA approved colors
- For beginners and professionals
- How to guide
The Cons
- Cleaning instruction for the airbrush not included.
Don’t worry, here’s a video:
To Conclude
Pro Master Airbrush Cake Decorating Airbrush System Kit has everything you need to get started: a gravity feed airbrush, maintenance free compressor and 12 FDA approved edible colors. It is made for accurate, detail work. The unit is quiet, has a powerful high performance and will make your cake decoration process “a piece of cake”.
Master Airbrush 2 Airbrush Cake Decorating Airbrushing System Kit
This model features two different airbrushes:
A dual action gravity feed airbrush with a 1/16 oz. angled fluid cup and a 0.3mm needle and nozzle. This airbrush allows you to work on horizontal surfaces and to spray from hairline up to 1” wide patterns. Great for detail work!
A single-action external mix siphon feed airbrush with w 0.8mm tip, 2 – ¾ oz. siphon bottles. It has an 1/8” air inlet. Great for high coverage work!
The compressor included is a Master TC-20 the most popular single-piston compressor made by Master. It has the strength of 1/6 horsepower and can deliver a high air volume of 0.7 cmf and high air flow of 25 liters per minute. This is the same model as the one above, so if you read the previous review you would know it operates quietly, has a precise air adjustment control and is maintenance free oil-less as well as thermally protected. The pressure ranges from 0-57 PSI and it features air-on-demand system which prolongs its lifespan.
The 12 edible colors included range from midnight black to metallic silver. They are all FDA approved, made in USA and are Certified Kosher. With them you can get an amazing spectrum of colors and make a cake decoration that will leave people speechless.
What’s in the box?
This airbrush kit includes a Master TC-20 Air Compressor, Model G34 Dual-Action Airbrush and Model E91 Siphon Feed Airbrush, a 6 Foot Braided Air Hose with 1/8″ Fittings, 12 different Chefmaster Airbrush Food Colors and a How to Airbrush Training Book to Get You Started. Also, you will get a 5 Piece Mini Cleaning Brush Set.
The Pros
- Two airbrushes
- Maintenance free compressor
- Quiet operation
- 12 FDA approved edible colors
- Precise air adjustment control
- Portable
- Lightweight
- How to guide
- For beginners and professionals
The Cons
Depending on your skill, it could possibly be a bit hard to put together.
To Conclude
The Master Airbrush 2 Airbrush Cake Decorating Airbrushing System Kit is compact, lightweight, portable and offers everything you need to get your cake airbrushed. The best part is that it offers two different airbrushes, which means more options for you. For the price of this kit – you cannot go wrong.
PointZero Cake Airbrush Decorating Kit
Point Zero went a step further and provided you with 3 different airbrushes:
The PZ-258 – a dual-action, internal mix airbrush with a .35mm nozzle ideal for sharp details and a tight-tolerance. Spray patterns range between thin lines and 1-1/2 inch.
The PZ-260 – a dual-action, internal-mix airbrush with a 0.3mm nozzle for sharp details and a tight-tolerance. Spray patterns range between hairline to 1-1/4 inch.
The PZ-276 – a single-action airbrush with external-mix and a broad spray pattern between ¼” and 2”. This airbrush is less inclined to clogging due to the spraying medium which is atomized outside of the tip.
With only 8 pounds, the Elite-125X can be considered a lightweight and easily portable compressors that has outstanding power od 1/5 HP and the air delivery of 1.0cmf. It has an advanced, precision-forged piston and produces very little noise – 55 db.
The colors are placed in 12 bottles (0.64 oz each) and they are highly concentrated and FDA approved. They range from Harvest Brown to Neon Pink and are made by Chefmaster in USA.
What’s in the box?
The package includes an Elite-125X air compressor, a PZ-260 dual action airbrush, PZ-258 dual action airbrush and PZ-276 single action airbrush, a tabletop stand, a 10” braided hose, two 22cc glass bottles, 5cc and 7cc color cups, paint pipettes, nozzle wrenches, 12 premium Chefmaster paints and 7 bonus Airbrush Guides.
The Pros
- 3 airbrushes
- Consistent line widths
- 12 bottles of colors
- 5 cleaning brushes
- Quiet operation
- Long lasting kit
- For beginners and professionals
- Advanced control
- Easy to use
- Lightweight and compatible
- Tabletop stand included
The Cons
- I’ll let you know if I find any.
To Conclude
The PointZero Cake Airbrush Decorating Kit is the ultimate option, it has everything you need and more, to make your cake decorating experience a convenient and easy one. 3 airbrushes, a reliable compressor and wide range of paints: it’s all there. Get this lightweight, portable and compact unit and start decorating!
U.S. Cake Supply
The U.S. Cake Supply carries the slogan: perfect blend of cake and art. The biggest advantage is that it could be used by anyone even children! It is extremely easy to use, compact and lightweight – you can take it anywhere you go.
The compressor has three airflow settings – low, medium and high; while the airbrush is a single action gravity feed one with a 0.4 mm fluid tip and a 1/16 oz cup. In addition, you will get 12 eye-catching vibrant food colors that you can blend and shade, write script and add accents, use stencils and color fondant and add elements. The options are limitless. This kit is highly recommended for beginners, as it makes their learning process easy, safe and even fun.
The manufacturer also offers a 100% Lifetime Satisfaction Guarantee, meaning that if you aren’t satisfied with the kit, you can return it and get a full refund.
What’s in the box?
The kit includes: a professional airbrush compressor with 3 airflow control settings, a precision single-action gravity feed airbrush, a 6-foot airbrush hose, an airbrush holder, a 12 U.S. Cake Supply airbrush food colors, a detailed user guide manual with airbrushing tips and design techniques and an U.S. Cake Supply airbrush food coloring chart guide.
The Pros
- Compact
- Easy to store
- Good for beginners and professionals
- Good value for the money
- Easy to assemble and clean
- 3 airflow settings
- FDA approved edible colors
- 100% Lifetime Satisfaction Guarantee
The Cons
- Compressor lacks a bit of power.
To Conclude
The U.S. Cake Supply is a kit highly recommended for beginners as it will help master airbrush decorating in no time. It’s not that powerful as the previous ones, but it does the job right and that’s what matters the most.
Cake Boss Decorating Tools Airbrushing Kit
The Cake Boss Decorating Kit is a mini decorating airbrush kit that is at the same time suitable for beginners and for professionals as well. It includes a precision chrome-plated airbrush gun and a compact 110V airbrush compressor that has three airflow control settings (low, medium and high) and a maximum air delivery at 18 PSI.
This unit is made for easy application, all you need to do is turn the compressor on, choose a color and put in the reservoir and pull the trigger on the airbrush gun. This makes it ideal for beginners although professionals use it too. The kit has a Quality Assurance Guarantee that ensures that this kit is compatible with other Cake Boss Bakeware and decorating equipment and supplies.
What’s in the box?
In the package you will find: A precision chrome-plated airbrush gun, an airbrush compressor that comes with a 50Hz/60Hz plug-in adapter, a rubberized air hose, a plastic dropper, a nozzle wrench, as well as an instruction booklet and a case.
The Pros
- Cheap
- Easy to use and clean
- Three airflow settings
- Cake Boss Quality Assurance Guarantee
- Lightweight (just over 1 pound)
- For beginners and professionals
- Carrying case included
- Plastic dropper for color inserting
The Cons
- Edible colors not included.
To Conclude
This airbrush cake decorating kit offers you a compatible, extremely lightweight and a cheap unit, which will have you decorating in a blink of an eye. It’s greatest advantage is the easy usage and its price, but the biggest drawback are the colors which you need to purchases separately.
Final Conclusion
You can buy the airbrush cake decorating equipment separately or you can buy a full kit, the choice is yours. The only thing to have in mind is to select the airbrush/kit that will match your skills, style and future projects. If you are a beginner, it is a safe decision to buy the cheapest one, and upgrade later. And if you are a professional, well then don’t be shy and grab the deluxe one. In both cases, take the one that it is easy to use and that will have the ability to create everything you imagined.