Hello All!

I am looking for suggestions on how to keep my airbrushing mess to a minimum. I knew that there would be overspray, but had no idea the extent. I have been cleaning food colorant off of my floors for three days now.

I put up a towel, and put parchment paper under and around my cake. However, that didn't really help much.

I have seen airbrushing boxes that suck the overspray into them. However, those are a bit out of my price range at the moment.

Does anyone have any ideas for me on how to keep the overspray contained?

Thanks so much!

Try turning the PSI down...If you turn it up too high the spray comes out full blast and that is when I find that I get over spray everywhere.If I turn it down to half way it doesn't seem to travel as far.

I use a big tall/wide cardboard box that I cut off one side so it opens up - I stand this on the table around my cake with newspaper covering my table surface (just so I can wrap up the paper and throw it away instead of having to wipe down a plastic tablecloth or something similar) So it looks kind of like a Science Fair project display that's 3 sided (you may even try one of those although I find them to not be big enough for some of the cakes I need to airbrush.

I hope that makes sense the way I described it!! Wait until you blow your nose That spray gets EVERYWHERE! You may want to wear a mask if you are going to be doing a lot of airbrushing/using dark colors/etc. But I've had good luck doing it this way. Then when I'm finished the box just folds flat and I store it in my garage. The first time I airbrushed I didn't use anything to contain it either, just wasn't thinking and I used red coloring and I was cleaning up red from my counters and table forever!!!

Here is a link with the idea of how it looks - these are science fair display boards. ( I just had a really big box handy and decided to recycle it) I really like having the newspaper under my turntable and covering the counter surface b/c it soaks up the overspray and it's easy to just throw it away.



http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.easy-science-fair-projects.net/images/blankdisplay.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.easy-science-fair-projects.net/science-fair-project-display.html&usg=__ZT_RGSC_RmJUaUAH7XpJU4l9f00=&h=338&w=441&sz=23&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=LXy_Iia--nNPkM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=170&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dscience%2Bfair%2Bdisplay%2Bboards%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1600%26bih%3D710%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C228&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=473&vpy=293&dur=2&hovh=196&hovw=257&tx=194&ty=111&ei=LXbZTNSADcSBlAekhJysCQ&oei=LXbZTNSADcSBlAekhJysCQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:0&biw=1600&bih=710

"Wait until you blow your nose! That spray gets EVERYWHERE!" @Bturpin

That is too funny! When I blew my nose I thought it was bleeding (because I had been using red colorant). It took me a second to figure out that I had inhaled the particles! Wearing a mask is a great idea!

I will have to find a big cardboard tri-fold. Since I teach school, I have seen them plenty of times, but they aren't always readily available in our neighborhood stores this time of year. I am sure my husband can hunt down a big piece of cardboard for me.

I think I will also try turning down the PSI. I was using it at about 40ish which I was told was good for cakes, but I am up for trying anything!

Thanks so much for your suggestions! (0:

I had this happen the first time I used mine. I cleaned and cleaned for days trying to get it off of everything. Then I went searching for a fix online. I found a site where a lady had a wood cabinet made with a bathroom fan in the back that sucked the overspray in and it gets trapped in the the paper towel that covers the fan in the back. So, I had my dad build me on. He made it out of plywood with sides hindged so I could fold it up for easier storage. I also have a plexiglass top that slips onto two pegs that are on the sides. That way I can see through it no problem. This solved my problem COMPLETELY. The best thing for airbrushing. Here is the site I found it on. http://www.earlenescakes.com/AirbrushCabInst.html

@DivaWeava - you can buy the tri-fold presentation boards at Michaels. I just picked up two (black and white) to use for backgrounds for my cake photos. Looks like I may have to go get a couple more.

I tried the folding things from Michael's. It was still everywhere. I just finished airbrushing a fish which took a while and I had NO over spray anywhere. It would be great for you if someone could build you what I have. The fan suck the overyspray out and traps in the papertowl.

I use the trifold display trick too - got mine at Hobby Lobby. I covered mine with an old plastic tablecloth (the disposable kind from the dollar store) - so I can wipe it clean easily between uses.

I did make mine a little bigger 24 x 24. And it folds up for easy storage. Hope you can get one!

I am using one of those trifold boards the kids use for school projects...5.00 and it works ok so far....other wise I do it under the microwave exaust fan hehe...if its like pshtpsht and done......I know I have colors all over I keep finding hehehe...thats before Using the board of course