I did a search for luster dust, but ended up being more confused then before! I keep reading different things on it I was thinking of making a skating rink on a cake, so here are my questions...

Is it edible? How do I use it exacly, just "paint" it on the buttercream icing? Do I mix it with water (I don't want to use alcohol). How much water do you add to how much dust?

And lastly, has anyone ordered off this site? http://www.cakeart.us/index.cfm/fa/subcategories.main/parentcat/3946/subcatid/21592

Any other tips/information would be very helpfull. Thank you, and I appologise for all the questions I'm very very new to this.

I recently bought some NuSilver luster dust from my local cake supply store. The man in the store said it works best with everclear. I have also heard of people using lemon extract. I am not sure how it works on buttercream...I have not tried that yet. I am sure someone else can help.

You can use it with lemon extract, I do. I use it on BC after it as crusted over, but you need to have a soft touch. It looks beautiful. Just experiment with it. It is very easy to use.

Thank you How much lemon extract would I need though?

I use a little medicine cup, put a little dust in, and then just go drop by drop until you get it the consistency you want. You want it to be not thick, but thinner than syrup. Sorry, not more specific, but you will know it when you see it. Have fun with it. Be sure to post the ice rink pic.

bulldog...when painting on BC...do you still use the lemon extract or do you brush it on dry???

Traci,

You paint it on mixed with the lemon extract.not dry! Also be careful how dark yellow the lemon extract or lemon oil is...(Some manufacturers are darker than others) but the darker the oil or extract can sometimes bleed through the BC after it has been painted.Ask me how I know!! HEE! HEE!

You can brush it on dry to chocolates though, right? Or am I crazy?

It really depends on the effect you want to achieve. You can dry brush. I use this when I want a block of colour but in slightly different shades eg the sky. If you want a nice even coat of colour mix with liquid and paint. Don't be afraid to use alcohol especially the everclear. The actual alcohol evaoprates very quickly just leaving a layer of colour. You can also use clear vanilla extract. I put a small amount of powder on my palatte, add a couple of drops of alcohol using an eye dropper and mix with my paint brush. you need a thick consistency. Don't mix too much at once especially if you're using alcohol as the alcohol evaporates off the pallatte leaving your colour behind so you end up adding more liquid

I defer to Miss Baritone; I learned most of what I know from her

I never heard of everclear, is it like a "grain alcohol" sold for that purpose? I have been trying to find what works best outside of buying "drinking alcohol" because I don't buy that stuff.

I have heard of people using everclear also but it is not available here so I just use vodka mostly.It evaporates anyway!!

I have been using lemon extract until I can find something better, and I don't buy vodka. (wish they could sell a grain alcohol in small vials for decorating purposes, I guess they'd need a special license though).

Some of the dusts are considered inedible by the FDA. If you buy in the US, it should tell you which ones. Sugarcraft has a lot of good info on using the dusts...

http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/coloring/dusts.htm

Everclear is not available in the States--it's been banned. I've heard of people bringing it in from Canada, but I don't know what the penalty would be for doing so if you got caught. Not worth the trouble, certainly. Now, to bring in a nice unpasturized wheel of brie from Windsor--I might be willing to take that risk!

What's illegal about it? Is it like hard liquor without a license or something?

Goodness they are legalizing marajuana, you'd think they'd allow a little vial of painting liquid for a cake decorator.

Gosh, I should have double checked before posting. Everclear is banned in California, Utah, Michigan, Maryland, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. It's a very potent form of vodka, according to webbartender. It is kind of silly to ban it--I mean, isn't all alcohol potentially dangerous? I guess I will try plain vodka, I don't think it will make any difference. I haven't tried luster dust yet either--but I'm encouraged to try it by some of the other posters!

I think it's an alcohol poisoning thing...really dangerous if you drink it straight or if it isn't mixed right. Wouldn't you know, I think CA is one of the states where it's illegal. They've also banned silver and gold dragees and dusts (FDA inedible ones). Not very decorator friendly there lol

Gracious!

Well I LOVE luster dust, especially silver and gold, so hope they don't ban them here!

So far lemon extract works fine for me but then I don't have anything to compare to.

Everclear comes in 2 strengths, 190 proof and 151 proof. The 190 proof is 95% alcohol, the 151 proof is 75% alcohol. To figure out how much alcohol content any liqour has, take the "proof" and half it. Half of 190 proof is 95, so the alcohol content is 95% and so on. Strong stuff.
Some states have banned it but not all.
It (Everclear) is considered food grade 95% ethanol, it's good to go on ye olde cakes. Dont drink it straight though...might kill ya with alcohol poisoning. Too strong.
When you use it to apply luster dust etc., the alcohol will evaporate within about 15 seconds, leaving it dry and alcohol free. No aftertaste.
Good for cakes and mixed drinks, never drink it straight.