Drilling in Natural Stone

[Supershine!]

What's the best way to drill 1/4" diameter holes in exterior natural stone?

I'm installing an aluminum railing and I need to drill about 32 holes for the posts which will be fastened with wedge anchors - 4 per post. The stone is by Banas Stones and is a sandstone tile 1" thick on a mortar bed on a concrete foundation.

Regular drill with a diamond bit? Hammer drill with a masonry bit? Rotary hammer drill with a masonry bit? I got alot of conflicting advice.

Thanks!

 

[nealtw]

Rotary hammer for the concrete, you can turn of the hammer on most f them if you are afraid of the stone.

 

[Snoonyb]

Sandstone is relatively soft, so if your tool has both rotary and hammer moods, use the roto in the sandstone and the hammer in the concrete.