I decorate cakes on the side.. I still consider myself very much a beginner. I'd say these days I do about 1 a month or so, more or less depending on who's having bdays when.. but everyone that buys always says they'll do for thier other kids, etc. So I think I should invest but wanted to keep it under 75 or the most $100. Can anyone recommend anything for me?

As usual, thanks to all of your talented people!

..moving to Cake Decorating.

I can't help but I'm interested to. I was checking at Michaels on the weekend but I'm not sure what to look for either. A friend of my husband bought one there and likes it but he uses it for paint and I couldn't figure out which one he was talking about when I went to look. He figures what he bought will work for food color.

There are some great deals you can get on ebay. I bought mine on ebay and it was really inexpensive. Here is a link to one I found today. It's $71.00 if you buy it now. It includes everything you need including the air compressor. There are several more, just put Cake decorating air brush in your search.

http://cgi.ebay.com/CAKE-DECORATING-AIRBRUSH-KIT-Food-Color-Air-Compressor_W0QQitemZ220537251151QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item33590b654f

I hope this helps. Good luck!!

Michaels has an airbrush gun that will work with the cans of air. I purchased the gun (reg $35) and can (reg $25) for 50% off. It is great for the person who does not do a lot of airbrushing.

thanks so much all.. i actually just put a bid on the one serenatea just put a link to... i bid $50 hopefully they take it!! I am so excited! Thanks a bunch. If I don't get the bid I'll just keep looking, from what i saw ebay has a ton.

I bought my first airbrush and compressor from Harbor Freight and it cost around 75 with the shipping. It was good enough to start with but would not spray any luster dust or the lucks silver. When that one broke I went to NAPA auto parts store( closest Michaels is an hour and half away) and bought a paasche easy starter set for under 30 and love it. I can spray anything through it.
I am a hobby baker as well and could not see spending a lot on one if I did not like it and I do not do a lot of cakes. HTH

I don't need it often enough to make the larger investment, so I use the spray cans of coloring from Wilton. There is some limitation to the colors, but they work really well in general.

I have a stupid question about the Harbor Freight and Michaels stuff...are those food safe? I only ask because I make jewelry too and I buy some stuff from HF for metal manufacturing and that doesn't seem like a place you could find something that was safe to use on food. I don't know much about airbrush machines, though, so maybe as long as the tubing and wand are food safe, that's all that matters?

Paint dept with the rest of the airbrush items. My prices were also Canadian, US prices are usually cheaper.

I have this one and like it a lot. I think you have to get the brush separate, don't remember. I don't feel like I need to upgrade it or anything, this one will last me for years. THe only thing is i wish it had a holster.

http://www.airbrushcity.com/144AC.htm

okay...this might be a dumb question...but since i don't have one, maybe not...
can you use just any old airbrush machine? They're not specially made for cake decorating? As long as it's new? Hmmm...
thanks.

I'm curious about the ? saycheese ^^^ asked. If you buy one at a hardware store, is it made of food safe materials?

You could use your husbands compressor if he has one, provided it can be adjusted to the lower psi needed for cake decorating.

DH bought me a compressor for Christmas, then I bought a nice airbrush set at Michaels. they let me use a coupon too, so instead of $100 it was sixty bucks!

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-CAKE-DECORATING-AIRBRUSH-w-Compressor-4-Food-Colors_W0QQitemZ190372354125QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c5313984d