what airbrush to use with cocoa butter that doesn't require a compressor

[kevnick80]

Hi guys. First post here. 

 

Just wanted to ask what you guys would recommend for a novice chocolatier to use as an airbrush for my chocolates?

 

i want a fairly inexpensive (Badger??) airbrush that you can use with compressed air can, rather than the expense of a compressor. Is this possible? 

 

I only use it very sporadically for chocolates for friends etc, so don't really want to be splashing out. 

 

Thanks!!

[Yiannos]

I can chime in here a little, I have used compressed air for year working on old audio equipment etc. The problem I think with an airbrush designed around a can of air vs a dedicated compressor is the consistency of the air pressure. The pressure you get from a new can vs 3/4 vs 1/2 and so on is so different, I would think whatever nozzle you were using would only work well for a very specific volume of canned air. It also seems to vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. If I were just starting out and experimenting with this kind of thing, I'd look at a small compressor from Harbor Freight if you have one nearby. I know they sell small airbrush kits, but to be honest I am unfamiliar with what kind of nozzles and things you might need that are food safe/easy to clean to make it so, so maybe just a small inexpensive compressor on it's own to get you going. To be honest I am not a fan of Harbor Freight, their stuff is the cheapest of the cheap, and any tools I need to last I always spend more on something more durable, but for giving things a try that I don't normally do (i.e. welding, airbrushing like you, basic woodwork etc) I think their cheap stuff gives you an opportunity to dip your toes in the water without spending an arm and a leg.

[Kerry Beal]

1 hour ago, kevnick80 said:

Hi guys. First post here. 

 

Just wanted to ask what you guys would recommend for a novice chocolatier to use as an airbrush for my chocolates?

 

i want a fairly inexpensive (Badger??) airbrush that you can use with compressed air can, rather than the expense of a compressor. Is this possible? 

 

I only use it very sporadically for chocolates for friends etc, so don't really want to be splashing out. 

 

Thanks!!

The canned Badger air is not food safe. I'd get a Paasche external mix H-5 brush over the badger - and a Harbour Freight compressor that can put out 35 PSI.

 

Paasche external mix

[Jim D.]

I second Kerry on the Paasche model (which she recommended to me a few years ago). The crucial parts are made of metal and so can withstand the heat gun you will need to use better than an all-plastic airbrush.

[RobertM]

The small plastic model airbrush I have keeps cooling the cocoa butter so fast that I spend the majority of my time heating the gun (and siphon tube) with a heat gun....it takes a long time to do my highly decorated pieces

[kevnick80]

Thanks guys

 

Any ideas for me that i can easily and inexpensively source in the UK?

 

Thanks

[Kerry Beal]

Amazon.com,uk

 

Compressor - not sure if reaches 35 PSI though