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Have you ever walked past your local cake shop, seen their breathtaking display of towering cakes, and wished you could make similarly stunning creations at home?

If you love the look of artistically decorated cakes, but don’t have the spare time to spend hours hand-painting every detail, then an airbrushing kit is the perfect way to take your cake decorating skills to the next level.

With one of these tools, you can achieve the same impressively detailed and creative designs you’d find in any professional cake shop. The air“brushes”allow you to paint on any canvas, from sheets of icing to delicate marzipan flowers, using a whole range of vibrant colors. 

Best Airbrushing Kit for Decorating Cakes

To learn all you need to know about airbrushing kits and what you need to consider when deciding which one to purchase, check out our buyer’s guide section.

We explore the difference between single and double action guns, compare feed methods, and explain some key terms that might leave a novice cake decorator scratching their head in confusion.

If you’re looking to upgrade an existing airbrushing kit and you already have a good understanding of what you’re looking for, skip to our top pick to see which is our favorite airbrushing kit for decorating cakes!

We wonder what Picasso could have achieved with one of these?

Top Picks for Best Airbrush Kits for Cake Decorating

PointZero Cake Airbrush Decorating Kit

PointZero Airbrush Cake Decorating Kit - 3 Airbrushes, Compressor, and 12 Chefmaster Colors

Our top pick has to be the PointZero airbrush decorating kit because of its advanced control and versatile use. It’s compatible with both single and double action airbrushes, which are included, therefore you won’t outgrow this kit as your skill improves.

Multiple airbrush options allow you to complete finer, more intricate designs as well as achieving wide coverage. There are 12 different color Chefmaster edible paints included which are highly pigmented for bold, vibrant patterns. They produce high quality results and coverage, even when working on notoriously tricky surfaces such as non-dairy icing.

The Elite-125X compressor is lightweight so your hand won’t tire after excessive use, and it consistently delivers a clean flow of air. Although it’s powerful with 1/5 HP, it’s quiet when it runs producing a mere 55 dB of noise. 

The instructional DVD this airbrushing kit comes with is a great way to familiarize yourself with the equipment, and you’ll also receive 7 bonus ebooks which each contain a detailed guide to various airbrushing techniques.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced airbrush user, this PointZero has functions to suit all levels of ability.

PROS:

  • 3 airbrushes included: PZ-260, PZ-258, and PZ-276
  • 12 Chefmaster paints (0.64 oz. bottles)
  • Additional extras include a tabletop stand, 10” braided hose, paint pipettes, nozzle wrenches, 5cc and 7cc color cups, and two 22cc glass bottles

CONS:

  • Storage case not provided

Gocheer Mini Airbrush Kit

Gocheer 30PSI Airbrush Kit with Compressor Dual Action Mini Air Brush Kit Airbrush Gun Set with 0.2/0.3/0.5mm Nozzle Multi-Function Airbrush Gun Set for Painting Makeup Arts Nails Cake Decor Craft

This small, compact airbrush kit is perfect for anyone looking to upgrade from their single action airbrush, or for on-the-go students who are looking to spend a little less without sacrificing the quality of the performance. 

It’s a double action airbrush so you can control the airflow and colors with a dual action trigger, allowing you to experiment more with your line width and the intensity of the color.

It comes fully equipped with a host of accessories that make it easy to use, and it can carry out most airbrushing techniques to achieve a whole range of different patterns and textures. It’s versatile design means it can also be used for tattoos, nail art, and textile painting – just to name a few!

The airbrush is simple to disassemble for cleaning and the high-quality components ensure excellent atomization and precision spray control. An air filter prevents moisture from spreading and produces a dry steam of air during use which prevents clogs from forming. 

Due to its smaller size, the mini-pump needs to be allowed to cool after about 30 minutes of continuous use. If you can’t pull yourself away from your work and run the airbrush for much longer than this without a cooling period, you may damage the mini-pump and shorten its lifespan.

This is an affordable piece of kit that would be a great addition to any cake decorating collection, and the extensive range of accessories and cleaning tools it comes with means you get a lot for your money.

PROS:

  • Dual action trigger for accurate control
  • Multilple accessories
  • Excellent value for money
  • Small and compact for easy transportation

CONS:

  • Pump can overheat if not allowed to cool periodically
  • Can be tricky to master
  • Doesn’t come with any colors included

Master Airbrush CoolRunner 2

Master Airbrush Cool Runner II Dual Fan Air Compressor Professional Airbrushing System Kit with 3 Airbrushes, Gravity and Siphon Feed - 6 Primary Opaque Colors Acrylic Paint Artist Set - How to Guide

Next on our list is this Master Airbrush multi-purpose cake decorating kit. It’s featured as Amazon’s Choice, and with a 4.5 out of 5 star rating and nearly 1,500 reviews, it’s not hard to see why!

Compatible with both single and double action brushes, this airbrushing system kit includes 3 different airbrush options for versatile use that extends beyond cake decorating, including crafts, auto graphics, fine art, and more! 

If you’re going to be doing some serious airbrushing, the powerful 1/5 HP single-piston compressor produces an air volume of 0.8 cfm and an air slow of 25 liters per minute for impressive performance. If you share studio space, don’t worry about creating excessive noise, as it only measures in at 47 dB during operation.

You can run your airbrush for extended periods of time, as it’s practically impossible to overheat the single-piston compressor thanks to two built-in cooling fans. The “air-on-demand” system automatically switches the air off when it’s not in use, but still delivers full-capacity and the siphon feed system allows you to work with a large volume of color for larger canvases. 

You receive 6 U.S Art Supply opaque primary colors with this kit which are all non-toxic, and the double-sided color mixing wheel provided means you can experiment with creating your own unique shades. 

PROS:

  • 100% satisfaction guarantee
  • High quality, highly pigmented U.S. Art Supply colors included
  • 3 airbrushes included: G22, G25, and E91
  • Siphon feed system for bigger decorating projects

CONS:

  • Less suitable for beginners
  • Only provides basic instructions manual

Watson and Webb Little Airbrush Kit

Airbrush Cake Decorating Kit - Watson and Webb Little Airbrush Including Stencils, 1 x Airbrush Cleaning Pot, Cleaning Brushes, Case and 24 Colours

Watson and Webb pride themselves on their extreme precision airbrushes which achieve excellent results when it comes to cake decorating. They’re so confident in this product that they even offer a “Love it or Your Money Back” guarantee, so if it isn’t right for you, you won’t be out of pocket.

Despite its compact size, this little airbrush kit is the most expensive option on our list, and it comes packed with bonus accessories that allow you to use it for a wide range of decorating techniques. 

It’s incredibly easy to use and control, with 3 speed compressor settings so you can work at your own pace, and the unique flowcontrol airbrush ensures an accurate mix of color and airflow is delivered during use. 

The stayclean needle can produce thin, clean lines for more intricate details as well as going up to 4mm for larger decorating jobs. You can also create perfect cityscapes by using one of the stencils that come included.

You’ll receive 13 Watson and Webb airbrush colors which are perfect for decorating anything from sugar paste to pasties, and a bonus color wheel allows you to mix your colors to create the perfect shade. 

PROS:

  • 100% customer satisfaction guarantee
  • Amazing precision control
  • 13 Watson and Webb airbrush colors
  • Carry case included for easy transportation

CONS:

  • Expensive option

Timbertech Airbrush Kit

TIMBERTECH Precision Airbrush Professional Dual Action Airbrush ABPST01 with 1/8’’-1/4’’ Adapter, 6ft Airbrush Hose, 0.2/0.3/0.5mm Nozzles and Needles for Painting, Cake Decorating, Tattoo, Models Art

We wanted to round off this list of the best airbrushing kits for cake decorating with an affordable, budget friendly option, and this Timbertech airbrush kit is perfect for beginners who might not want to commit to one of the more expensive models.

The double action airbrush pistol set (ABPST01) has a 1/3 oz gravity fluid cup so you can control the color release with just the touch of your finger for heightened control and even color distribution. 

It comes with 0.2mm, 0.3mm, and 0.5mm stainless steel needles and nozzles so you can get creative with your cake decorating designs, and it also includes a 6ft airbrush hose with a 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch adaptor so you can achieve different textures.

Manufactured using high quality copper, this airbrush is durable and has been well-constructed so that it is for the user to operate. However, you might need to watch a YouTube tutorial or two to get to grips with the equipment so you can make the most of its functions, as the kit doesn’t come with the more comprehensive instructions.

PROS:

  • Double action airbrush for precision control
  • Affordable and great value for money
  • Comes in a storage box so it can be easily packed away

CONS:

  • Doesn’t come with comprehensive instructions
  • Doesn’t provide any starter colors
  • Compressor not included

Best Airbrushing Kit for Decorating Cakes Buying Guide

From galaxy cakes to hand-painted decoration, you can keep up with all the current baking trends by using an airbrushing kit to decorate your cakes.

They save time and they’re easy to use, and often you’ll find they’re suited to more applications than just cake decorating, although you should never contaminate the gun you use for decorating with other household products.

Buying an airbrushing kit for cake decorating rather than a standalone airbrush means you’ll get more for your money, as individually the accessories and colors needed to perform a range of spraying techniques can be quite expensive. 

They’re especially great for anyone just starting out in the cake decorating industry, but even an advanced cake decorator may want to flesh out their collection. Most high end kits have a generous list of included accessories, including a selection of colors to get you started. 

Single Action vs Double Action Guns

The key difference between single and double action airbrush guns is the way they allow the user to control the airflow and distribution. 

Single action guns are controlled by a single trigger motion, which delivers both airflow and color distribution. With most models, the amount of pressure you exert over the trigger as you airbrush your cake determines the intensity of the color, whereas the airflow remains constant throughout. 

Comparably, double action guns require the airflow and color distribution to be controlled separately. They use a dual action trigger that needs to be both pulled and pressed simultaneously, which ultimately allows you to have more control over your final designs.

However, the dual function of the trigger means it can take longer to master which can be frustrating for someone who’s new to cake decorating. As you only have the one variable to contend with, single action airbrush guns tend to be easier to handle and they’re popular amongst beginners as a result.

Feed Method

The feed method refers to the delivery and distribution system your airbrush pen uses, which in layman’s terms means how your color enters and exits the gun. There are two types of feed methods that airbrushes use: gravity, or siphon-feed mechanisms. 

Due to the extreme precision that’s required for cake decorating, the majority of airbrushing kits designed for decorating operate on a gravity feed system rather than relying on pressure. 

This uses less power, and instead the airbrush is filled by gravity drawing the color into the ink container. A smaller compressor is necessary as a result, but it’s worth compromise for improved control. 

Siphon-feed mechanisms, on the other hand, have the capacity for much larger quantities of color which is great for professional bakers or anyone working with a bigger surface area. It works by sucking the color from its container into the gun, which is then delivered through the nozzle onto the intended surface. 

Compressor and Airflow 

Excluding the airbrush itself, the compressor is the most important consideration when purchasing any airbrush kit, as this is what generates the air pressure that delivers your color and determines how evenly it’s distributed. 

This makes all the difference in the results you can achieve using your airbrush, as too much pressure can dent or create holes in your surface, whereas too little will produce patchy, less vibrant colors. Ideally, your compressor will fall somewhere between 18-25 PSI for optimal performance. 

You can also find airbrush systems which allow you to regulate the air pressure with a control dial to ensure a consistent level of airflow.

Most kits will have a compressor included, but if you already have an existing compressor you can find airbrush kits that don’t provide one.

How easy is it to clean? 

Cake decorating itself can be so much fun that you can spend hours working on your latest designs. However, like any other job, cleaning up after you’ve finished is the part that no one looks forward to.

Choosing an airbrush system that is easy to set up and disassemble will vastly improve clean-up duties and will make the process a lot quicker and easier. You should thoroughly clean your airbrush by running clean water through the airbrush until there’s no color remaining in the container.

They can be expensive pieces of equipment, and taking proper care of your airbrush is essential to extend the lifespan of your new decorating tool. Always read the user manual for care instructions, as not all are suitable for dishwasher use. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use other name brand air brush colors in your airbrushes?

Most airbrushes are suitable for use with a range of edible coloring and paints outside of their own brands, but it’s always worth checking the instructions manual before forking out on a new collection of colors.

Can you buy extra airbrushes if they’re not included in your kit? 

Yes!

Airbrushing kits are a great way to start your cake decorating collection, but they can’t include everything or they’d end up costing a fortune, so you’ll find plenty of compatible airbrushes that can be purchased separately. 

Can you airbrush buttercream?

You can use your airbrush to decorate multiple types of surfaces, and buttercream is definitely one of them.

Due to it’s looser consistency, you’ll need to be careful to keep your airbrush at a reasonable distance, otherwise it can lead to holes in the buttercream or an uneven surface.

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