A Guide To Airbrushes & Their Particular Applications

Our Mini Airbrush Compressor Set provides an all in one solution for the accurate application of your make up.
The set includes a discrete mini air compressor, airbrush holder, air hose and BARTSHARP 130 Airbrush.

The mini airbrush compressor has three power level settings with a maximum power level of 15psi
giving you fantastic control and flawless application.
It is also of an "oil-less" design which means that there is no requirement for oil to lubricate the piston
which can cause irritation to your skin and for your make up not atomise and apply correctly.

Your BARTSHARP 130 Airbrush is dual control (press down on trigger for air and pull back for release of make up)
which provides incredible control and accuracy.
The airbrush also has a needle adjust screw at the rear, which allows you to set how far back the needle will move, giving you even greater controland the ability to effortlessly create consistent lines and spray width leading to a flawless finish.

The Mini Airbrush Compressor Set is ideal for personal and home use. Please click on the images below to be taken to the product page.

If your makeup requirements exceed home or personal use we would recommend a more powerful compressor unit:
the TC802 compressor is small, quiet and powerful and more suited to a higher level of use with even greater control.

Again, it is an “oil less” compressor which ensures that your makeup and skin will not be contaminated by lubricating oils.
The TC802 compressor comes with an air pressure regulator / air filter which allows you to accurately set your air pressure to an exact psi.

It has a quiet operating level (less than 49db) and a powerful 1/5th horse power electric motor. Similar compressors only have a 1/6th horse power motor.
This makes it ideal for the application of mediums which require more air pressure such as nail paint, face paint, temporary tattoos and body spray tan.

Please click on one of the images below to be taken to the product page and full description.

Cake Decoration

Decorating a cake with an airbrush can be really simple and effective once you understand the basic controls and techniques.

Dual action airbrushes give you the ability to have greater control over the airbrush.
Dual action simply means: push down on the trigger for air and pull back on the trigger for paint release.
These controls are variable so the further you push down the more air will be released and the further you pull back the more paint will be released.

Many of the general spray colours and lustre colours now come premixed and are ready to use straight from the bottle
so it's simply a case of placing a few drops of colour in the airbrush paint cup and then spraying the colour on to the cake icing or stencil.
The closer the airbrush, the finer the line.
The further away, the wider the spray.

For general food colour spraying we would recommend an airbrush fitted with a 0.3 or 0.5mm needle and nozzle
as these sizes will allow for good flow and spraying quality.

For slightly thicker mediums we would recommend an airbrush fitted with a 0.8mm needle and nozzle as it will not become so easily clogged.

There really is a great variety of airbrushes styles available, it's just a matter of knowing which one suits your needs best.

It will help for you to understand some of the common phrases used to describe airbrushes...

Gravity Feed

Paint cup or jar is on top of the airbrush or enters the airbrush via a side feed.
Paint is fed to the needle by gravity.

Siphon Feed

Paint cup or jar is situated under the airbrush or enters via a side feed.
Paint is fed to the needle by a venturi effect.

Side Feed

Paint cup or jar enters the side of the airbrush.
This can be gravity or siphon feed.

All of the below airbrushes can be fitted with 0.2, 0.3 & 0.5mm needle and nozzle sets

For artists wishing to decorate their cakes using thicker mediums, such as sugar icing,
you will require an airbrush which can be fitted with a larger needle and nozzle set.
The below airbrushes can be fitted with 0.2, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.8mm needle and nozzle sets.

Our Mini Airbrush Compressor Set provides an all in one solution for the accurate decoration of your cake
be it free hand or with the use of stencils.

The set includes a discrete mini air compressor, airbrush holder, air hose and BARTSHARP 130 Airbrush.

The mini airbrush compressor has three power level settings with a maximum power level of 15psi
giving you fantastic control and flawless application.

It is also of an "oil-less" design which means that there is no requirement for oil to lubricate the piston
which will cause contamination of your medium and make it unsafe to consume.

We strongly recommend that you thoroughly clean your airbrush prior to initial use and also after every spraying session.

Your BARTSHARP 130 Airbrush is dual control (press down on trigger for air and pull back for release of colouring agent)
which provides incredible control and accuracy.

The airbrush also has a needle adjust screw at the rear, which allows you to set how far back the needle will move,
gives you even greater control and the ability to effortlessly create consistent lines and spray width leading to a professional finish.

The Mini Airbrush Compressor Set is ideal for personal and home use and are available in three colours.

Please click on one of the images below to be taken to the product page.

If your cake decoration requirements exceed occasional hobby use we would recommend a more powerful compressor unit:

The TC802 compressor is small, quiet and powerful and more suited to a higher level of use with even greater control.

Again, it is an “oil less” compressor which ensures that your food source will not be contaminated by lubricating oils.

The TC802 compressor comes with an air pressure regulator / air filter which allows you to accurately set your air pressure to an exact psi.

It has a quiet operating level (less than 49db) and a powerful 1/5th horse power electric motor.
Similar compressors only have a 1/6th horse power motor.
This makes it ideal for the application of mediums which require more air pressure such sugar icing or other similar thicker mediums.

Please click in one of the image titles below to be taken to the product page and full description.

Please have a look at our "Customer's Gallery" to see some of the fantastic art work created using airbrushing product supplied by BARTSHARP Airbrush.

Below are just some of the examples of the excellent work produced by OGGY'S Cakes using the BARTSHARP 180 Airbrush

Custom Automotive And Motorbike Tank And Helmet

Without doubt the cream of the crop for airbrushes used with automotive paints is the Iwata Kustom range.
The Kustom Airbrush range has been specifically designed and developed for the custom paint artist.

The Iwata Kustom CS is a dual action, gravity feed airbrush fitted with a 0.35mm needle and extra large 14cc paint cup.
The Iwata Kustom is the workhorse of the Kustom line up providing fine line control but also able to provide wide background sprays.

The Iwata Kustom CH is dual action and factory fitted with a match head 0.3mm needle and nozzle.
Again, with the custom automotive artist in mind, it has an extra large paint cup capacity of 14cc.

The Iwata Kustom CH is also fitted with a MAC (micro air control valve) which gives you fingertip control over air flow at the needle point.

The Iwata Kustom Micron CM is the “Daddy Mac” of the range.

Again it has been specifically designed and developed with the custom automotive artist in mind
and is based on the market leading design and performance of the Custom Micron.

The matched head factory fitted and tested 0.23mm needle and nozzle set up provides you
with the absolute in dual action control and paint atomisation.

This airbrush also comes with a 14cc paint cup and is supplied with a Ten Year Iwata Backed Warranty.

The Iwata Kustom CS is priced at £148.00
The Iwata Kustom K-CH is priced at £233.00
The Iwata Kustom Micron CM is priced at £399.00

Do you need to spend so much on an airbrush to be able to use automotive solvent based paints?

If you are professional custom automotive artist then yes.
The Iwata Kustom range will exceed your needs for quality and control and will also be an investment for many years to come.

If you are hobbyist or occasional home sprayer then maybe not!

The main concern with using less expensive airbrushes is that they are constructed using small o-rings
which provide an airtight seal for the parts which come into contact with the paint.

If automotive solvent based paint is used it may, over time, cause the o-rings to swell, crack or melt.
The time that this takes to happen will be dependent on the amount of solvent/thinner used in the paint,
the amount of time the o-rings are exposed to the solvent based paint and how thoroughly the airbrush
and o-rings are cleaned after use and prior to storage.

What’s the answer?

Well there is a balance to be struck between cost and performance.
All of the BARTSHARP Airbrushes are constructed with a Teflon needle packing bush.
This Teflon bush prevents paint travelling back along the needle towards the trigger area.
Teflon is highly impervious to solvent based paint and will, therefore, not cause any concern.
We also stock a complete range of replacement o-rings for all of our airbrushes.
This means that you can use your airbrush with solvent based paints with the knowledge
that all of the o-rings can be replaced at a cost of £3.99 (inc postage UK).
We would strongly advise that you thoroughly clean your airbrush, and o-rings,
as soon after use and storage to ensure future performance and as long a life as possible.

BARTSHARP Airbrush recommends the below airbrushes for custom artwork if your pocket isn't ready to stretch to the price of an Iwata

Spray Tanning

For best results an airbrush with a large cup capacity as well as a larger needle and nozzle size should be used.
This will allow the medium to flow correctly and will also provide coverage over a larger area.

We would recommend the following airbrushes:

Body Painting

For best results an airbrush with a medium needle and nozzle size should be used.
This will allow the medium to flow correctly and will also provide coverage over a medium to larger area.

We would recommend the following airbrushes: