When using ball burrs, use the largest one that can possibly do the job. This really means the largest one you have that will fit in the space that you are working in. I keep 1/4 inch ball burrs for nearly all operations. The larger the burr, the easier it is to control. Small burrs have a tendency to catch and be jerked around, thus, marring surfaces that you do not wish to have scarred. It can also lead to the burr bouncing, or slipping, off the surface and grinding into you. They will eat right through a glove, even a leather one, and then into your fingers. This is a very bad cut, because it chews into the skin, and rips it up into chunks, instead of just a nice smooth cut. When using a large burr, it cuts faster, is easier to see what you are doing, and by having more teeth on the metal at one time, is easier to control. You can actually "sculpt" with a large ball burr. I do keep some small burrs handy to get to the small areas when needed, but actually try not to use them. A larger burr will require less pressure, hence more control. The more teeth it has the finer the cut, but the longer it takes to do the job. This falls in to the "matter of preference" category. Use a fine one or a coarse one, the speed of the tool can make either work just fine. A coarse burr, at high speeds will give the same cut as a fine burr, and I prefer high speeds. It works faster and gives a smooth cut--smooth enough to go on to polishing with a bright boy wheel or even just white diamond on a yellow treated buff.

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