Decorating a cake is the final touch for finishing the cake you've spent ages baking. Though decorating the cake may not alter the taste of the cake too much, the design of any cake is especially important.
Many different tools can be used to decorate a cake, but if you're looking to flaunt your artistic flair or want to take your cake decorating skills to the next level - either for yourself or for your business, airbrushes are a tool we would recommend.
Airbrushes are essentially an electric device that can use a nozzle and air compressor to distribute colour onto a surface. They are great for painting on creative and unique designs. In this article, we will be going through the best airbrush for cake decorating so you can easily find the perfect product.Best Pick
The best buy is the PointZero Airbrush Dual Action Airbrush Kit with 3 Airbrushes. This product comes with three airbrushes that are already installed, a DVD and downloadable ebooks to help you learn how to use the tool and can be used for several things including decorating cakes, shirts, different types of crafts and more.
Budget Pick
The best budget is the Master Airbrush Master Performance G233 Pro Set with 3. This airbrush comes with 3 different nozzles and needles of varying sizes, can easily be cleaned with the cutaway handles and you can adjust the paint flow with ease thanks to knobs on the airbrush
Quick Comparison: Top 9 Best Airbrush For Cake Decorating
1. PointZero Airbrush Dual Action Airbrush Kit
The first product in our list is the PointZero Airbrush Dual Action Airbrush Kit. This kit comes with three airbrushes that can be used for several purposes. It also comes with a 6 ft. air hose so you can easily manoeuvre and control the device as you wish.
If you've never used an airbrush before or are not too confident in how to use the tool, this PointZero set comes with a Master the Basics DVD and 7 downloadable guides that can teach you how to use the airbrush.
This tool can be used on various things aside from decorating cakes. Whether you want to design shirts, paint crafts, create paintings and illustrations and more, this tool can be used on many creative projects.
In order to distribute colour onto the cake evenly, even over all of the bumps and curves of the cake, this product comes with an array of different tools that will aid you to decorate solid backgrounds over big surfaces or do more smaller intricate designs.
The air compressor which is included evenly distributes colour to avoid blotchy and uneven colouring. In the set you will find a 7cc colour cup which has been installed with a 0.33mm nozzle, a 2cc fine nozzle for small designs and a 22cc siphon-feed jar which has a 0.8mm nozzle. This is great if you want to distribute different amounts of colour onto your surface and cake.
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2. Master Airbrush Master Performance G233 Pro Set
This product also comes with three needles that are 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5mm in size so you can precisely distribute any colour onto the area that you want. These needles each come with fluid tips and air caps as well which will help you get the perfect amount of paint onto your surface of choice.
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, this product can be used on a variety of surfaces including cake and for other arts and crafts projects.
Cleaning airbrushes can be very troublesome at times. The last thing you'd want is your new airbrush not working because your paint or colour got stuck in the nozzle or needle. This product comes with cutaway handles that allow you to flush and clean the air passages. The knobs on this device allow you to adjust the paint flow easily whilst you paint away.
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3. Cake Boss 50660 Decorating Tools Air Brush Kit
If you’re looking for a product that is specific to decorating cakes, the Cake Boss 50660 Air Brush Kit may be a product to consider. This product comes in a muted red colour that will add a pop of colour in your kitchen and won’t look out of place if you keep it on display.
This product is powered by a compressor unit (which is 18 PSI) and requires DC voltage and 9 Watts of power.
There are three modes that you can adjust this product to, giving you the option to paint backgrounds of paint over previous stencils on your cake. The Cake Boss 50660 also comes with a plastic dropper, a rubber hose, a nozzle wrench, an instruction booklet, a case to keep the device protected and a /C 12V 50Hz/60Hz adaptor.
To use this product, simply switch the compressor on, pour your colouring into the reservoir and start decorating. You won’t need to spend a lot of time and effort setting this device up before you can use it either, taking a lot of the hassle out of decorating your cakes.Pros
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4. U.S. Cake Supply - Complete Cake Decorating Airbrush Kit
Though all of the products we have mentioned already in this article are all sets, they have missed out one important component that will prevent you from decorating your cakes. This component is the food colours that you will need.
The U.S. Cake Supply Kit comes with 12 different food colours including colours such as Spring Green, Metallic Gold, Hawaiian Blue and Midnight Black.
This kit not only comes with the colours but it also comes with everything else that you will need to airbrush and decorate your cake. This also includes a professional precision airbrush, three airflow settings on the air compressor and a guide to help you use the tools provided and do certain designs.
To use, pour your desired colour into the airbrush, power it up, pull the trigger and start decorating.Pros
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5. Paasche Airbrush H-Set Single Action Siphon Feed Airbrush Set
If you need a tool that is easy and quick to use, the Paasche H-Set may be the one for you. This product can achieve patterns of 1/16-inch to 1-1/2-inch and comes with a brush that has 3 different head sizes - making it easy for you to add details or backgrounds on your canvas or cake.
Other items that come in this set is a ¼ oz metal cup where you pour your colour into, 1 oz storage bottle, 1 oz bottle assembly, hanger, wrench, booklet/manual and 6 ft braided hose.
Though the Paasche Airbrush H-Set Airbrush Set does not come with a tool to help you clean the airbrush, it can be easily cleaned by spraying a paint cleaner through the airbrush.
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6. GotHobby 0.3mm Gravity Feed Dual-Action Airbrush Paint Spray Gun Kit Set
The next item on our list is the GotHobby 0.3mm Gravity Feed Dual-Action Airbrush Set. This Set is great if you need a 0.3mm nozzle for a precise design. If you want variation, however, this product may not be the best option.
As this product only comes with a single airbrush and a precise nozzle, this may not be great if you want an airbrush to paint a background or larger surfaces with.
It also has a dual-action air control, is made from durable stainless steel, can easily be cleaned with and refilled with paint, can be used with food colours, acrylics, watercolours, lacquers, enamels and more.
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7. Master Airbrush Cake Decorating Airbrushing System Kit
Though this brand has already been mentioned in our article previously, the Cake Decorating Airbrushing System Kit with 2 Airbrushes also deserves a mention.
This product includes almost everything that you will need to begin airbrushing your cakes. It comes with twelve food colours made by Chefmaster.
If you're nervous about using an airbrush, this product comes with a guide that will instruct you throughout the process, and the built-in compressor comes with two cooling fans which increase the safety of the tool and prevent the airbrush from overheating. This means that you can use this product for a longer period without worrying about any dangerous hazards.
Using airbrushes can oftentimes be quite messy. Though we recommend that you use this type of tool in an area which can easily be covered/protected and cleaned, it is always to know that a product can easily be cleaned too. This product comes with a cleaning brush set which will make tidying up and preparing the airbrush for the future an easy task.
The two airbrushes that come in this set are different sizes. One of them is a 0.3mm airbrush and the other is 0.8mm. This is great for being able to do a variety of different designs on your cakes.
We want to point out that this product does not come with a hose, which will prevent you from being able to use the air compressor which is included.Pros
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8. PointZero Cake Airbrush Decorating Kit
Next up is another PointZero product. This one, unlike the first one that was mentioned, is specific for decorating cakes with and has a few different features.
Such features include airbrushes with both single and dual-action functionality and the internal-mix design controls both air and fluid which helps with precise details that you may want to add to your cakes.
You don't need any previous experience to use this product as with a single pull of the leaver both air and colour is evenly dispersed onto the cake. This also makes it so the airbrushes don't easily get clogged up. You can easily change the airbrushes from one to another without a hassle and the compressor distributes air evenly through the airbrushes.
Like the previous product mentioned from the same brand, this set also comes with guides and DVDs to help you master the use of an airbrush.Pros
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9. Paasche H-Card Single Action Airbrush Kit
The last item on our list is the Paasche H-Card Single Action Airbrush Kit. This product is a great option if you’re a beginner or if you want a hassle-free airbrush for a simple spraying job.
This airbrush comes with a 0.6mm head that can achieve patterns and designs of 1/16 inch - 1 ½ inch. It can also be used on various surfaces and projects, even arts and crafts projects that do not involve cake or baking.
The body of the airbrush is coated with chrome so it is durable and is easy to clean as long as you have a paint cleaner that you can run through the airbrush.
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Things to Consider Before Buying an Airbrush for Cake Decorating
Airbrushes are not a staple household item and can be pretty intimidating if you've never used them before. Don't fear as they are easy to use and can be used to take your cake decorating skills to the next level.
Though airbrushes can be used on other things such as canvases, shirts, as temporary tattoos and much more, they're great for designing cakes with.
If you like to bake cakes and want to get more creative with your designs, whether that's colouring the cake an entire bright colour or making dainty and unique designs, airbrushes can be used to accomplish what otherwise may be impossible to do.
In this section, we will be going over some important factors to consider before you get an airbrush, just so you can opt for a product that can meet all of your needs.
Material
The first factor we recommend you consider is the material of the airbrush. This is important to consider as it can determine how durable the airbrush is.
Ideally, you would want a product that will last a long time. We recommend you go for an airbrush that is coated with chrome or is made with stainless steel. As you'll be manoeuvring the tool around, if at any point you drop it, it should be strong enough to withstand the drop from your hands to the floor.
It is also important to consider the material as it will also determine how easy or difficult it is to clean the airbrush. You'll be playing with colours that could easily stain the airbrush, so going for a stainless steel product will also be easy to clean.
Size of Nozzle
The size of the nozzle is important as this is what determines how the food colour will be distributed onto your cake.
Many airbrush sets come with several nozzles ranging from sizes. For example, a set can include nozzles that are 0.3mm, 0.6mm or even 0.8mm. There are, of course, variations of this per brand and product. You can also get a single nozzle depending on the product you invest in.
Think about what sort of designs you would like to do on your cake. If you want to focus on creating backgrounds on a large cake then a bigger nozzle will be a great idea. If you will be colouring small cakes, cupcakes or cookies or want to draw more intricate designs on your cakes, a smaller nozzle would be a better choice.
Versatility
Though it is recommended to keep your cooking and baking equipment and art equipment separately, oftentimes many airbrushes on the market can be used for a variety of things.
If you are creative and enjoy doing arts and crafts or love painting, you may want to opt for an airbrush set that comes with several airbrushes as you can use some of the airbrushes in the kitchen and some to create other forms of art.
Cleaning
Airbrushes are thin and small, making them hard to clean. As mentioned before, the material of the airbrush can determine how easy it is to clean it oftentimes.
However, some brands come with cleaning tools (such as brushes and paint cleaners).
Be mindful as sometimes paints and colours can dry up in the airbrush and cause it to clot the nozzle up. Consider how you would go about cleaning your airbrush and whether it comes with tools that help you to keep your tool fresh and clean.
What Comes In The Set?
Most airbrushes come in a set. Sets vary from product to product. You can find sets that have almost everything you need. Whether that's a few airbrushes with a variety of nozzles, the air compressor, the adaptor, storage bottles, a storage bag and even food colours, be mindful and take care to know what exactly is in the set.
This is especially important as we wouldn't want you to have to invest in more items if you can get all you need in a single purchase.
How It Is Used
Airbrushes can be quite intimidating, especially if you've never used them before. They have a unique shape and can be quite fiddly when it comes to starting the compressor.
Each airbrush has its own compartment when you can place the colour into. Every brand has different ways to manoeuvre and control the tool, with some having the ability to be adjusted with other nozzles whilst it is running.
Some products come with a guide or manual to help you understand how to set up the airbrush. Some brands come with DVDs and ebooks that will not only teach you how to use that particular product but can also advise you on how to do particular designs.
Not all airbrushes come with manuals and guide so please be mindful of this when you pick out an airbrush.
Conclusion
Airbrushes are a great tool that can take your cake decorating to the next level. Depending on the size of the nozzle you can get super creative with not only cakes but cookies and cupcakes too. They are a versatile tool that can be used to spray large backgrounds and even small dainty designs on cakes, despite the corners and curves of the cake. We hope that through this article you now know what to look out for when searching for airbrushes and that you get the best airbrush for cake decorating.