Spraying Chocolate: Equipment, Materials, and Techniques

[pastrygirl]

I've read through this, but I'm still not sure how large a compressor to get for airbrushing colored cocoa butter into chocolate molds.  I just got a Grex airbrush on sale at Chef Rubber, along with a bunch of their colors, and am looking forward to playing with it.  I won't be doing large volume, probably not more than 20 molds on a given day.  Lower price is more important than whisper-quiet.

 

Is a 1/5 or 1/3 horsepower compressor designed for artist's airbrushes enough or do I need a big one from Home Depot?  What is a good tank size?  What range of psi works with cocoa butter?

 

Thanks!

[keychris]

@pastrygirlI have an Iwata SmartJet Pro (IS875) - http://www.iwata-medea.com/products/compressors/smart-jet-pro/

This isn't really high enough pressure. You can make do with it, but I have to pause after each row of cavities and let the pressure build back up. It's really great for spatter applications that use a lower pressure, but if you want easy whole-cavity coverage you'll need more pressure. If I do get the opportunity to upgrade, I'll give the IS875HT a go, unless someone on here has a better suggestion

Edited September 26, 2016 by keychris (log)

[pastrygirl]

Thanks. The Iwata is listed as 1/8 horsepower max 35 psi. 

 

I saw some other brands on Amazon that were 1/5 or 1/3 hp and up to 60 psi. Do you think that would be enough?

 

[Tri2Cook]

Dammit. Just went to the description page for the compressor I ordered (which should be in today or tomorrow) to refresh my memory on the specs. It should be fine as far as being powerful enough... but I just noticed for the first time that it's 220v. Guess it's gonna be doing a fast turnaround and go back and I'll look for another. I really have to start reading things more carefully.

[Kerry Beal]

6 hours ago, pastrygirl said:

Thanks. The Iwata is listed as 1/8 horsepower max 35 psi. 

 

I saw some other brands on Amazon that were 1/5 or 1/3 hp and up to 60 psi. Do you think that would be enough?

 

Mine is an iwata 1/8 hp and while not fast like my Fuji turbine works fine 

[Anna N]

19 minutes ago, Tri2Cook said:

Dammit. Just went to the description page for the compressor I ordered (which should be in today or tomorrow) to refresh my memory on the specs. It should be fine as far as being powerful enough... but I just noticed for the first time that it's 220v. Guess it's gonna be doing a fast turnaround and go back and I'll look for another. I really have to start reading things more carefully.

I feel your pain. I just did the same thing with a non-food related item. Even worse, because it was part of a large order, I now have to find proper packaging and take it to the post office etc. etc.Damn. Must learn to read.  

[Jim D.]

9 hours ago, keychris said:

@pastrygirlI have an Iwata SmartJet Pro (IS875) - http://www.iwata-medea.com/products/compressors/smart-jet-pro/

This isn't really high enough pressure. You can make do with it, but I have to pause after each row of cavities and let the pressure build back up. It's really great for spatter applications that use a lower pressure, but if you want easy whole-cavity coverage you'll need more pressure. If I do get the opportunity to upgrade, I'll give the IS875HT a go, unless someone on here has a better suggestion

 

Chris,

But you are using a higher-power spray gun rather than a typical airbrush, correct?  That might require more power.  I too have the Iwata SmartJet and don't find the pressure is the problem, at least with my Paasche airbrush.  The issue is more with having the cocoa butter come out in a steady spray.  Mine sprays fine for a few cavities, then I have to stop and heat everything and shake the bottle.  It's as if something gets stuck in the siphon, then gets dislodged.  I have even wondered if the glittery cocoa butter is the culprit (Chef Rubber's "Jewel" product), but the issue sometimes occurs with regular c.b.

[pastrygirl]

Thanks, all, I'll look around and try to resist the ridiculously huge yet relatively cheap Home Depot compressors. Sounds like a little more power than the Iwata would be nice for working quickly but not crucial. 

[Kerry Beal]

5 hours ago, Kerry Beal said:

Mine is an iwata 1/8 hp and while not fast like my Fuji turbine works fine 

As mentioned mine is an Iwata - also a Smart Jet - and 1/8 HP but the specs on mine read 0-60 PSI whereas all the ones they list on their website are 0-35 PSI for that same size.

 

[keychris]

9 hours ago, Jim D. said:

Chris,

But you are using a higher-power spray gun rather than a typical airbrush, correct?  That might require more power.  I too have the Iwata SmartJet and don't find the pressure is the problem, at least with my Paasche airbrush.  The issue is more with having the cocoa butter come out in a steady spray.  Mine sprays fine for a few cavities, then I have to stop and heat everything and shake the bottle.  It's as if something gets stuck in the siphon, then gets dislodged.  I have even wondered if the glittery cocoa butter is the culprit (Chef Rubber's "Jewel" product), but the issue sometimes occurs with regular c.b.

 

Yes, you could be right! I've not had a good enough reason to get a smaller airbrush than the one I was given - freebies always are a good thing There's no branding or anything on the one I have, it's just an HVLP gravity feed with a 100mL canister on it.

[Tri2Cook]

So the correct compressor has been ordered and the incorrect compressor is ready to go back to the post office. Anyway, the one I ordered is 1/6 HP, 20-23 liter/minute air flow and pressure up to 60 psi. Should be plenty for my airbrush (Paasche HS) so the only thing that should be holding me back with airbrushing now will be lack of skill.  

[pastrygirl]

I ordered this one from Amazon, 1/5 hp, up to about 60 psi, and inexpensive. I hope it works!  

 

[keychris]

Looks good, let us know how it goes!

[Tri2Cook]

I think the PointZero, Abest, Pro and a couple others are all pretty close to being the same compressor. Lower cost made-in-China compressors that generally get high ratings in the reviews. I ordered the Pro which looks extremely similar to what you ordered. They have a version with the tank like the one you ordered but I went with the one without the tank. These compressors use 1/8" BSP fittings and most of the common popular airbrushes (including Grex) use NPT fittings so there's a good chance you're going to need an adaptor like this one.

Edit: I just spent several minutes searching the internet for an 1/8" BSP to 1/8" NPT adaptor in Canada and for what it will cost + shipping, I can just order the Paasche D220R compressor (1/6 HP, up to 50 PSI)  instead and be done with it. So I went back to amazon.ca and canceled the Pro compressor. So much for trying to be thrifty.

Edited September 29, 2016 by Tri2Cook (log)

[pastrygirl]

I tried out the new Grex airbrush and Point Zero compressor today, worked fine with no need for an adaptor (got a Grex hose at Chef Rubber when I bought the airbrush).  Reasonably quiet, like a refrigerator running.  MUCH quieter than the Wagner airless paint sprayer!  Or even my KitchenAid mixer.  Now to practice ...

[Tri2Cook]

9 hours ago, pastrygirl said:

I tried out the new Grex airbrush and Point Zero compressor today, worked fine with no need for an adaptor (got a Grex hose at Chef Rubber when I bought the airbrush).  Reasonably quiet, like a refrigerator running.  MUCH quieter than the Wagner airless paint sprayer!  Or even my KitchenAid mixer.  Now to practice ...

Awesome. I was assured by several reviews that I would need an adaptor to use the Paasche with the compressor I ordered so I took their word for it. Now I'm wondering if I should have waited and checked for myself. Oh well, what's done is done.

[Jim D.]

20 hours ago, pastrygirl said:

I tried out the new Grex airbrush and Point Zero compressor today, worked fine with no need for an adaptor (got a Grex hose at Chef Rubber when I bought the airbrush).  Reasonably quiet, like a refrigerator running.  MUCH quieter than the Wagner airless paint sprayer!  Or even my KitchenAid mixer.  Now to practice ...

 

Your public anxiously awaits the results.  If you tell me it went perfectly and you produced beautiful chocolates the first time, I think you should be banned from eG.

[keychris]

 

24 minutes ago, Jim D. said:

 

Your public anxiously awaits the results.  If you tell me it went perfectly and you produced beautiful chocolates the first time, I think you should be banned from eG.

 

I sense much anger is this one

[pastrygirl]

51 minutes ago, Jim D. said:

 

Your public anxiously awaits the results.  If you tell me it went perfectly and you produced beautiful chocolates the first time, I think you should be banned from eG.

 

LOL!  Um, I might have to invoke my 5th amendment rights   Would it help if I tell you I used purple, orange, and dark chocolate and the test shells came out shiny but super ugly?

 

I definitely need to play with pressure and possibly tip sizes, I think the spray was a bit too fine, the color was not very saturated.  And I'm not sure how to get splatter, is it lower pressure, thinner CB, larger tip, or some combo?

[Kerry Beal]

7 minutes ago, pastrygirl said:

 

LOL!  Um, I might have to invoke my 5th amendment rights   Would it help if I tell you I used purple, orange, and dark chocolate and the test shells came out shiny but super ugly?

 

I definitely need to play with pressure and possibly tip sizes, I think the spray was a bit too fine, the color was not very saturated.  And I'm not sure how to get splatter, is it lower pressure, thinner CB, larger tip, or some combo?

Try lower pressure first. Splatter may have to be done with Chocolot's technique using that brush. With my Fuji just turning down the flow will cause splatter but I can't get my Paasches to splatter that way.

[Jim D.]

1 hour ago, pastrygirl said:

 

LOL!  Um, I might have to invoke my 5th amendment rights   Would it help if I tell you I used purple, orange, and dark chocolate and the test shells came out shiny but super ugly?

 

I definitely need to play with pressure and possibly tip sizes, I think the spray was a bit too fine, the color was not very saturated.  And I'm not sure how to get splatter, is it lower pressure, thinner CB, larger tip, or some combo?

Did you have to stop fairly frequently to heat up the brush and chocolate?  That is the problem I have far too often; I have to stop maybe 10 times in the course of spraying a mold.  I'm using a Paasche.  I think I need help (about airbrushing, I mean).

[pastrygirl]

@Jim D. I only did two molds, I was just making sure things worked together.  The little ink cups are metal, so I'm sure as the kitchen gets colder it'll become a challenge.  Re-warming every few cavities would be totally maddening!  I did hit it with the hair dryer a few times just to make sure, but the real test will be trying to do actual production.

[Kerry Beal]

1 hour ago, pastrygirl said:

@Jim D. I only did two molds, I was just making sure things worked together.  The little ink cups are metal, so I'm sure as the kitchen gets colder it'll become a challenge.  Re-warming every few cavities would be totally maddening!  I did hit it with the hair dryer a few times just to make sure, but the real test will be trying to do actual production.

I have one of these. I plug it in with an Ikea dimmer switch so it is a little cooler. The little metal cups and the several airbrushes sit on the metal surface with a piece of disposable shop towel under them. Keeps everything toasty and ready to go - saves all sorts of pre-warming with the heat gun.

[Tri2Cook]

I already have 3 really good temp controllers that I used for cage temp control back when I had pet reptiles so I'm thinking about just using a small inexpensive dehydrator or something like that and running it through one of those controllers. I figure I can keep my airbrush and color cups in there all the time and just turn it on the night before if I have plans to airbrush.

[PieceO'Cake]

Hello everyone...I just joined the forum and came straight to this thread...my quest for spray guns and compressors lead me to one particular listing on AliExpress....looks like a super compact spraying system. However i haven't found any reviews or feedback for this machine....any guidance on this is much appreciated....

heres the link

Chocolate Sprayer Machine