# Ball nose bits and surface finish **URL:** \ **Category:** General Chat\ **Created:** [April 21, 2024, 12:13am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/ball-nose-bits-and-surface-finish/3158 "2024-04-21T00:13:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lazerwolf](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/lazerwolf/32/4564_2.png) [@lazerwolf](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/lazerwolf)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 12:13am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/ball-nose-bits-and-surface-finish/3158/1 "2024-04-21T00:13:38Z")
Greetings folks! I’m new to wood carving and ball nose bits, and I’m having a really hard time figuring out where the point of diminishing returns is with respect to minimal cusp height, step down and step over settings. The model I’m working with is a western revolver at 1:1 aspect. Based on personal experience, are there any general rules of thumb and recommendations on carving this on walnut without it taking several hours yet result in a hardly noticeable cusp? I’d appreciate any advice, thanks! ![Screenshot 2024-04-20 171129](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/2/299acc7e6465d7a4fd683103c19a7de9e17943b4.png) ---
**Author:** ![JRG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@JRG](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/JRG)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 1:45am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/ball-nose-bits-and-surface-finish/3158/2 "2024-04-21T01:45:38Z")
Usually when doing a 3D model you use a 1/4" end mill with a 40 percent stepover for the roughing. When it comes to the ball nose bits the finer the detail the smaller the Ball nose bit. In your case I would suggest an 1/8" ball Nose with a 10 to 12 percent stepover, then a 1/16" Ball Nose for the detail with an 8 percent stepover for the finer detail in the handle. If you’re using the Vectric software you can include both bits in the finishing toolpath.